Photo: CFP

 
Despite a valiant effort, the Chinese national team was edged out by defending champions Australia by 90-89 in a hard-fought FIBA Asia Cup 2025 final.

Although the 16-time champions China were unable to reclaim the title, their performance throughout the tournament, marked by resilience, consistency and emerging talent, stood as a beacon of hope for the future of Chinese basketball.

While Australia ultimately prevented China from ending its title drought, the Chinese team's journey to the final marked a significant breakthrough after years of relative decline.

Leading into the second half with four points after a strong start that resulted with a 15-point margin over Australia, the Chinese team gave the Australian team, who haven't suffered a defeat since 2017, quite a headache.

Expectations were not high for China ahead of the tournament, as the team was competing without star centers such as Zhou Qi, Yang Hansen of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers or any naturalized players.

Chinese head coach Guo Shiqiang's squad delivered a remarkable campaign: sweeping Group C, defeating South Korea in the quarterfinals and overpowering New Zealand in the semifinals, thus making the country's first final appearance in a decade.

The national team's performance helped reaffirm its status as a powerhouse in Asian basketball, while leaving the door open for future success as the young players will continue to grow after experiencing the cohesion built during this tournament.