Who’s Next? Why DeQing Are Ready for Their Next Step | FIBA Basketball

MIES (Switzerland) – DeQing (CHN) have already shown they can win Challengers, compete deep into FIBA 3×3 World Tour stops and knock off established contenders. Their 2026 résumé includes a third-place finish in WT Ulaanbaatar and a dominant Xi’an Challenger title, where they beat Barcelona (ESP), Phoenix (USA), Xi’an (CHN) and Skyliners (GER) before defeating Phoenix again in the Final. Add an increasingly dangerous international mix to a productive Chinese core, and DeQing have the ingredients to become a serious second-half threat.

By the Numbers

Here are three reasons DeQing could finally break through.

1. Multiple ways to win

Francis Lacis and Guim Expósito give DeQing an important international dimension. Both have actually won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup — Exposito in 2025 and Lacis just this year.

Lacis has already shown he can deliver when games tighten. In the Xi’an Challenger Semi-Finals, DeQing trailed Skyliners 12-9 before Lacis scored the team’s final three points to complete an 18-16 comeback. He then contributed again in the Final as DeQing closed out Phoenix 22-17.

Expósito adds another experienced World Tour presence and a perimeter option capable of generating offense in a variety of ways. He is one of the best passers on the Pro Circuit and is a solid scoring threat. Together, they give DeQing flexibility rather than forcing the team into one offensive formula. That adaptability becomes even more valuable when every knockout possession carries weight.

2. Chinese core can deliver

This is where DeQing’s ceiling becomes particularly interesting. Zhang Dianliang was simply unstoppable in Xi’an. He led the tournament with 38 points and posted a competition-best 40.5 Player Value. The title, though, was hardly a one-man operation. Guo Hanyu erupted for 10 points in the Final, repeatedly making timely plays throughout the championship run.

That combination gives DeQing a distinctive identity: the international players bring experience and versatility, while the Chinese core provides depth, familiarity and multiple ways to contribute. Zhang is an elite inside-outside threat, while Guo is as explosive as they come. Li Haonan and Wang Yunzhang round out the extended squad with a good mix of speed and size. DeQing know they don’t need one player to solve every possession because they have options.

3. High ceiling

The results tell a compelling story. DeQing finished fourth at the Hengqin Challenger, then won Xi’an. They followed that with a third-place finish at WT Ulaanbaatar and a second-place result at the Darkhan Challenger.

Of course, the individual wins matter even more than the placements. Their Xi’an title run included victories over four different opponents before the Final, while their Darkhan campaign featured a 21-19 Quarter-Finals victory over powerhouse Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL). DeQing have repeatedly shown they can survive against teams with World Tour pedigree.

As such, the argument isn’t simply that DeQing are improving. They’ve already demonstrated that their ceiling is high enough to beat elite opposition.

X-Factor: Zhang Dianliang becoming THE Guy

Zhang has already shown what happens when he takes control. His Xi’an performance was the clearest snapshot of DeQing’s ceiling. The next step is reproducing that impact against FIBA 3×3 World Tour defenses without the offense becoming overly dependent on him.

If Zhang becomes a consistent primary scoring threat while Lacis, Expósito, and the Chinese core maintain their production, DeQing suddenly have the firepower and variety to make a deep World Tour run.

One thing is for sure — DeQing aren’t waiting for one star to emerge. They’ve already built enough depth to win. The next step is turning that depth into consistency on the World Tour. With the Hongcheon Challenger ahead and WT Malaga on the horizon, the second half of 2026 offers another opportunity to turn a promising campaign into something much bigger.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA