Liz Cambage (Front) of Australia competes during the final match between the United States and Australia at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup at Santiago Martin in San Cristobal de La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain, Sept. 30, 2018. Australia lost 56-73. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Australian star center Elizabeth Cambage aims to win the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league title with her team Shanxi.
TAIYUAN, China, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Australian star center Elizabeth Cambage said in a recent interview that she felt grateful for her time in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league and spoke of her desire to achieve the title-winning feat with Shanxi.
"I always want to win a WCBA championship," Cambage told Xinhua here on Wednesday.
Cambage had signed with Shanxi last season, but failed to play a single game with the franchise due to an ankle injury.
"Shanxi is a very strong team. I'm lucky to know that I will be part of the team. But I was very upset that I couldn't play last season. I was injured and didn't play for eight months. It was a very tough year," she admitted.
Liz Cambage (R) of Australia shoots the ball during the Group B match between Australia and Argentina at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sept. 23, 2018. Australia won 84-43.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Before joining Shanxi, Cambage played several WCBA seasons with Zhejiang, Beijing and Shanghai.
"It's a very strong league. I love my time in the WCBA. It has told me a lot about myself. The rule is that there is only one foreign player in every team. It puts a lot of pressure. You need to be a good player.
"I'm very thankful for my time because it has made me a killer, a strong scorer on the court. And I've got to see so much of this country. If I didn't play basketball here, I wouldn't have got the chance to see, so I'm very grateful," she pointed out.
Cambage also had the experience of playing against the Chinese national team internationally, which she described as "like playing against sisters."
"They are strong. When I play against China, it's like playing against my sisters. The coach (Xu Limin) was my coach in Beijing. It's great to see familiar faces when I go against China. They have very strong girls and a lot of talent," she commented.
Cambage averaged 31.5 points and seven rebounds in her first two games with Shanxi.
"I just focus on my game. I try to rebound, block shots and make my points," said Cambage. "A lot of teams are worried about me. It opens up the court for other girls. It's not just about me. I like to play a team game."
Riz Cambage (Top) of Australia shoots during the quarter-final match between China and Australia at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup at Santiago Martin in San Cristobal de La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain, Sept. 28, 2018. Australia won 83-42. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Cambage set WNBA's single-game scoring record with 53 points last July, but emphasized that she didn't go for refreshing records in the Chinese league.
"I don't go out to break records. I go out to win games. If it happens one day, it happens. Bur right now we just focus on winning as a team," she mentioned.
For Cambage, "every team is a challenge" on Shanxi's way ahead, especially after the league changed rules to restrain foreign players to playing three quarters when taking on some teams.
"In some games, I'm not allowed to play a quarter. Every game is tough."
But in a short while, she showed her confidence again, "our team is great and girls are strong, so we will do well." ■
