China’s remarkable run at the FIBA Men’s 3×3 World Cup came to an end on Saturday after a hard-fought 21-16 loss to Spain in the quarterfinals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The game was intense from the outset, with Spain aggressively attacking the paint. Despite the early pressure, China’s Zhang Dianliang sank a crucial outside shot to steady his team. Spain maintained a lead throughout the early stages but couldn’t pull away decisively.
China rallied when Wu Xingrui nailed two free throws and Guo Hanyu hit a two-point jumper, briefly putting them ahead. However, a series of offensive fouls shifted momentum back to Spain. With the score tied at 16-16, Spain closed the game with a decisive five-point run to secure their place in the semifinals.
While the loss was disappointing, China’s performance marked their best-ever finish at the World Cup, reaching the last eight for the first time. The team’s historic achievement has ignited hopes for even greater success in future international competitions.
Spain advances to face Germany in the semifinals as the tournament continues.
