On May 10, Beijing time, the CBA playoffs saw Shenzhen defeat Zhejiang 95-91, winning the series 2-0 and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in three seasons.
Across this series, He Xining averaged 33 minutes per game, posting 27.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals, with field goal percentage of 65.5% and three-point shooting of 56.3%.
After the game, Shenzhen player He Xining addressed the press conference, sharing his thoughts.
“Congratulations to the team and Coach Zheng for returning to the top four again. We’ve been through a lot—low points and very tough times. But Coach Zheng has always persisted, giving his heart and energy to the club, and he’s guided us remarkably well over the years. Reaching the top four is a hard-earned achievement,” He Xining said.
“I also want to thank Zhejiang. Without them pushing us, we wouldn’t have matured mentally, and the team wouldn’t have grown tougher. They made things very difficult for us in both games—like tonight, where they fought hard until the last quarter and forced many turnovers with their full-court defense. They could have beaten us at home and taken the series back to our place.”
“But tonight, everyone stayed focused. As an experienced player, I made some crucial mistakes and fouls that nearly got me disqualified. I still made hasty decisions and didn’t keep myself on the court until the end. I know how important I am to this team right now. In the playoffs, especially in a top-four game, I have to learn to stay until the last second—that’s the greatest help I can give the team.”
“I hope, as Coach Zheng said, we don’t overthink—not about who we play next or what results we want. Our mentality has been steady all season. Even after reaching the top four, we can maintain the same calm, resilience, and unity to play well in the games ahead.”
When a reporter asked about his emotional celebration after hitting two three-pointers in the fourth quarter, He Xining responded: “I was excited because we were about to secure a semifinal spot. Personally, I need to take on more responsibility—both offensively and defensively—and give it my all. At that moment, I believed in myself and trusted I could make those shots. That’s what I’ve been doing for years. Some people think I’ve played well this season, but I’ve been doing this consistently. It’s the source of my confidence. Our new foreign player, as well as Dahei, Wang Haoran, and Rong Zifeng, all have the ability to hit those shots. But in those critical moments, I trust myself to carry the team on my shoulders. I hope to keep making those shots and help the team win more games.”