Singapore — China’s men’s basketball team made history by finishing as runners-up at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore on Sunday. The quartet of Guo Hanyu, Yan Peng, Zhang Dianliang, and Xiang Zhichao showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament.
After advancing to the knockout stage as the top team from Pool B, China secured a convincing 19-11 victory over Qatar in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they faced a tough challenge from Japan but emerged victorious with a 19-15 win, earning a spot in the final against the defending champions, Australia.
Australia started strong, leveraging their size and athleticism to take a 7-3 lead. However, the Chinese team displayed remarkable resilience, battling back to tie the game at 7-7 and later at 11-11. Zhang Dianliang put China ahead 15-14 with a deft layup and extended the lead to 17-15 after capitalizing on a missed shot by Guo Hanyu.
The tension escalated as Australia tied the game at 17-17 with a crucial outside shot. With the score knotted at 19-19, Australia earned two decisive free throws and successfully converted both to clinch a narrow two-point victory.
Despite the heart-breaking loss, China’s men’s team achieved their best-ever result at the Asia Cup. Their impressive performance also secured them a spot at the upcoming World Cup, set to tip off on June 23 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
In the women’s competition, China claimed third place after a dominant 21-11 win over the Philippines in the bronze medal game. Australia completed a golden sweep by defeating Japan 21-17 in the women’s final. All top-three teams from both the men’s and women’s tournaments have qualified for the World Cup.
