The prize of the Chinese pudding is in the process!

KUALA LUMPUR (Mageshwaran's AsiaScope) - The performance of the Chinese women's team so far in the 2012 London Olympics women's basketball competition has caused eyebrows to rise in pleasant surprise the world over.

But for those closely following the fortunes of the team, the successive wins, and more importantly the methodical manner in which they were achieved is only a logical progression of the process put in place some two years ago.

Agreed the Chinese women didn't exactly set the court on fire in their last appearance at an international competition - finishing only a disappointing 13th at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women - but seen in retrospect those defeats at the Czech Republic were only the proverbial first steps to success at London.

There is a well-planned strategy that the Chinese are taking into every game and there is an even more meticulous execution of those plans on the court. As a result the wins are coming, and in an impressive manner at that!

The point is that there is no decision that is taken on impulse no matter what the situation on the court is, especially even when the team is in control. Arbitrary calls on the rotation have been almost completely cut out and there seems a certain purpose and plan in everything coach Sun Fengwu or his team  does.

Look at the way Sun Fengwu handled the immensely talented Zhao Shuang in the first two games.

The 21-year-old Shenyang Golden Lions forward didn't even take to the court in the win against the Czech Republic and even when the Chinese went berserk against Croatia, all that the Zhao Shuang got was a mere two minutes of playing time. Simply because there was no role earmarked for her in the coach's scheme of things in these two games.

It was against Croatia that China's exacting strategy came to the fore, when Sun Fengwu chose to resist the temptation of the usual "spread the minutes" syndrome of many a coach when the team is on a rampage. Ji Yanyan and Wei 'female Yao' Wei didn't get any chance to play - again because there was no reason to disturb the plans.

Sun Fengwu has made it amply clear that there won't be any attempt made to disturb the process that the team is in.

Even when the rest of the world were excited - some of them in shock - after beating a team ranked as high as No 4 in the FIBA World Rankings and carrying as impressive record of a silver medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women, Sun Fengwu insisted that it was "always better to focus on the process than the consequences."

"This year, we did a good job of focusing on the process," he said adding "It's much better than to focus on the results because it's been a great help for our attitude towards training and games, our mindset, our mentality."

Now, the biggest test for Sun Fengwu and this Chinese process - in philosophy and performance - will come in their final two outings of the Preliminary Round - against Turkey and the mighty USA. A win in at least one of those games is essential for China to get a "better" draw in the quarterfinals.

How well Sun Fengwu and China guard this sticking to process from slipping into redundant rigidity when push comes shove will decide the ultimate fortunes of the team. Therein lies China's chances to take a shot at the medals!

So long…

S Mageshwaran

FIBA Asia

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.