Australia held its nerve in a breathtaking final to clinch a third straight FIBA Asia Cup title, edging out China 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This win marks the 18th straight victory for the Boomers since their Asia Cup debut in 2017.
Trailing by one point with under four seconds left, the Chinese mainland squad saw the final attempt by Hu Mingxuan fall short, sealing a narrow win for Australia. Earlier, China built a 25-17 advantage at the end of the first quarter with consecutive buckets from Hu Jinqiu and Hu Mingxuan. By halftime, the Chinese mainland lead had grown to 15 points before Australia rallied to cut it to four.
The final quarter saw leads change hands multiple times. Xavier Cooks delivered a game high 30 points and sank a crucial free throw to put Australia up 90-87. China captain Zhao Rui responded with two free throws to close the gap to one point, but Australia held on for the title.
The flawless record for Australia in the Asia Cup underscores that this team has emerged as a continental powerhouse. As fans around the world celebrate this thriller, the Boomers 18 game unbeaten run cements their legacy in tournament history.
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Australia edges China to capture third straight title at FIBA Asia Cup
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