Photo: Screenshot from CCTV

China recovered in the second half after a sluggish start and ultimately defeated South Korea 97-81 in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday. With this win, the Chinese U16 team finished the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, topping their group and advancing to the quarterfinals. 

At the start of the match, the Chinese team's performance was somewhat inconsistent, falling behind South Korea. However, the Chinese athletes quickly adjusted, and by halftime, they had closed the gap, trailing South Korea by just one point at 44-45.

At the start of the second half, China regained its touch and quickly took the lead at 60-49, gradually extending the advantage. By the end of the third quarter, China had increased its lead to 73-57, firmly controlling the game.

In the final quarter, China did not allow South Korea any chance to fight back, steadily widening the margin as the game progressed. China ultimately won 97-81, advancing to the quarterfinals of the U16 Men's Basketball Asia Cup.

China's Zhang Chunzhi stood out with a team-high 25 points. Zhang Ziyi also had an impressive performance, scoring 20 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. Zhang Yizhao jie contributed 18 points and 11 assists.

Beijing-based sports commentator Guo Ai told the Global Times on Tuesday that the young players' ability to adjust during games played an important role in maintaining the team's confidence.

"The Asia Cup emphasizes players' in-game adaptability and mental adjustments. China demonstrated this potential in today's match," Guo said. "If they continue to stay focused and maintain team coordination, reaching the semifinals or even higher, is entirely possible."

The FIBA U16 Asia Cup is being held in Mongolia from August 31 to September 7, featuring 16 teams divided into four groups. China is in Group C, along with Malaysia, the host nation Mongolia, and South Korea. In previous matches, China first defeated Mongolia 103-45, then beat Malaysia 100-44.

According to the schedule, September 4 will see play-in games for second- and third-placed teams from each group, September 5 will feature the quarterfinals, September 6 the semifinals, and the championship game will take place at 7 pm on September 7.

"Looking at the current standings in each group, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are also undefeated with three wins each, showing strong form," Guo said. "The knockout stage will be more intense, our team needs to maintain its ability to adjust during games, rotate key players appropriately, and stay consistent in reboun."

Global Times