Hu Mingxuan used Raymond’s screen to cut toward the left 45° three-point line. Liao Sanning, inbounding from the sideline, delivered a precise pass to his hands. Australia’s star forward Cox tried desperately to contest, but Hu Mingxuan faked a step-back shot, deceiving him completely.
In that instant, Hu had the perfect opportunity to release the shot. The game clock was ticking down toward under one second, and the score was 89-90—China trailing by just one point. Hu Mingxuan, a guard who had hit 5 of 6 three-pointers in the game, was attempting his seventh three-point shot.
Time seemed to freeze on the court. Fans in the King Abdullah Sports City arena in Saudi Arabia held their breath, eyes fixed on the flying ball. Had it followed the most thrilling script, the ball would have swished through the hoop—or at least clanged off the rim in dramatic fashion, like Leonard’s Game 7 series-winning shot against the 76ers in 2019, or Haliburton’s clutch equalizer against the Knicks in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals. That would have marked a new era in the FIBA Asia Cup since its 2017 reform—a truly Asian team championing the tournament.
Unfortunately, that scene never came to be. Hu Mingxuan’s three-pointer hit the front of the rim and bounced out. Amid the crowd’s stunned gasps, the game ended: China men’s basketball fell 89-90 to Australia, missing out on the Asia Cup championship.
It’s regrettable, yes, but not tragic. While the phrase “honor in defeat” may seem overused in competitive sports, after this 40-minute hard-fought battle, it perfectly describes every player on China’s team. They deserve to leave the court with their heads held high.
Since joining the Asia Cup in 2017, Australia has never let the championship slip—they haven’t lost a single game. Before today’s final, they were 17-0. In this edition of the tournament, their dominance was clear: easily advancing from the “group of death,” crushing the Philippines in the knockout stage, and defeating Iran, who would eventually take bronze. Standing before China was a team averaging 29 points per game over opponents—a true powerhouse.
The two teams had met once before in the Asia Cup, during the 2017 quarterfinals. Australia defeated China 97-71. At that time, under coach Du Feng, the “Blue Team” included Liu Xiaoyu, Yu Dehao, Li Gen, Ren Junfei, and Hu Jinqiu—the latter being the only player still active on the current roster.
All of this shows that China approached Australia as the underdog. But if you watched the full game, you would never think they were weak. In the first quarter, China’s guards attacked the basket decisively, drawing eight fouls from Australia and earning 12 free throws, ending the first ten minutes with an 8-point lead—the first time Australia had trailed in a first quarter in this tournament. In the second quarter, Wang Junjie hit several turnaround jumpers reminiscent of Anthony, and China led by as much as 15 points. Even when Australia responded with a 12-0 run to cut the gap to one, Hu Mingxuan sank two clutch three-pointers to end the half in the lead—the first half Australia had trailed all tournament.
After the break, fatigue and foul trouble began to affect China. Zhao Rui picked up his third foul early and had to sit, forcing a three-guard lineup while the foul-plagued Zhu Junlong played power forward. Australia seized the chance to take the lead. Despite foul issues and rotation challenges, China battled back with three-pointers from Cheng Shuaipeng and Raymond, and Hu Mingxuan drew three free throws, entering the fourth quarter up 71-68—the first time Australia trailed heading into the final period.
By this point, China had earned every bit of applause and praise. In the final ten minutes, even as Zhu Junlong fouled out and Wang Junjie struggled, Hu Jinqiu remained steady inside, Hu Mingxuan kept his hot three-point streak alive, and other players stepped up. Zhao Rui fought for fouls and even drew a flagrant foul on Cox to keep the team in contention. Ultimately, the final play fell to Hu Mingxuan, who narrowly missed a game-winning three-pointer.
If Iran’s victory over New Zealand to claim bronze caused some to doubt the value of China reaching the final, this match erased any skepticism. China led for most of the game, fought back after being briefly overtaken, and battled down to the final point. Australia’s stars Cox and Galloway combined for 53 points, yet China pushed them to the limit, proving the authenticity of their earlier performances.
It was far from a perfect game. Extended small-lineup rotations in the second half cooled Wang Junjie’s touch, Zhu Junlong fouled out early, and China faced a rebounding challenge. Yet, this one-point loss does not diminish the outstanding effort displayed. Hu Mingxuan exploded for 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, with several clutch three-pointers. Hu Jinqiu posted a solid 20 points and 10 rebounds. Cheng Shuaipeng, Wang Junjie, and others stepped up at crucial moments, demonstrating the depth and resilience of this Chinese team.
After the final whistle, the youngest player, Wang Junjie, shed tears. Previously, after every victory, he would smile widely—the fearless rookie whose goal was “to win the championship.” But growth often comes through setbacks, and imperfection can fuel future strength. For veterans Hu Jinqiu and Zhao Rui, who experienced China’s darker basketball years, the Asia Cup performance is bittersweet but hopeful. As team captain Zhao Rui said, “It’s very regrettable we lost tonight, by just one point… This defeat will remind us to work harder and become better. Today is just the beginning, not the end.”