Zhou in reload mode as he searches for redemption

Fans are still pinning hopes on Zhou Qi to become the next leader of Chinese basketball after the 23-year-old turned in a disappointing performance in Monday's 79-76 overtime loss to Poland in their Group A match at the FIBA World Cup at Wukesong Arena in Beijing.

It's not fair to say Zhou's lackluster effort was the main reason for the setback, but his botched inbound play with 7.2 seconds left in regulation time led to Poland knotting the score.

Zhou's miscue attracted even bigger attention than the day he joined the NBA's Houston Rockets. Within an hour, video of the play was the hottest topic on Chinese social media, and related topics garnered more than 1 billion hits overnight on Weibo.