Boomers win third straight Asia Cup title after one-point thriller over China
There could not have been a tighter finish, with China missing a go-ahead shot as time expired.
It was a supreme team effort but leading the way for the Boomers was the unstoppable Xavier Cooks, who paved the way with 30 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting.
He also collected nine rebounds and constantly broke down China's defence with his drives. He was named the game's most valuable player.
Jaylin Galloway, playing in his first Asia Cup final, also rose to the occasion, drilling six triples on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. He was later named the tournament's MVP and nominated in the All Star Five along with fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh.
William Hickey delivered when it mattered most, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks, including clutch plays down the stretch.
For China, Hu Mingxuan carried the offensive load with 26 points and five three-pointers, while veteran big man Hu Jinqiu supplied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that kept his team in contention until the final seconds.
China struck first with a strong opening frame behind Jinqiu's inside scoring and Mingxuan's timely shooting, building a 25-17 lead.
That cushion stretched to 36-21 in the second quarter, before Cooks powered a furious Australian fightback trimming the deficit to just four at halftime.
The third quarter saw momentum swing wildly. Galloway's fastbreak slam capped a 9-0 surge that briefly put the Boomers ahead, only for China to hit back with big triples from Cheng Shuaipeng and Lei Meng.
Galloway's buzzer-beating corner three left Australia trailing by just three entering the final frame, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Cooks and Galloway combined for clutch baskets, while Mingxuan answered with big shots of his own. Hickey's backdoor finish, a key putback and Will Magnay's huge block kept Australia in front by the slimmest of margins.
With under a minute left, Hickey's uncontested putback gave the Boomers the lead for good before Cooks and Zhao Rui traded free-throws.
Mingxuan's potential game-winner at the buzzer bounced off the iron, sealing the 90-89 victory for coach Adam Caporn's side.
For Australia, the win in Saudi Arabia means more than just another trophy.
Since debuting in 2017, the Boomers have been untouchable in Asia Cup play, now boasting an 18-0 record and cementing themselves as the modern powerhouse of Asian basketball.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Young sensation Piastri to have stand named after him
Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year. Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year. Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Boks hit by injury blows for second test with Australia
As if the pain of a first defeat to Australia at Ellis Park in 62 years was not enough, South Africa face a heavy injury toll from the 38-22 defeat in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener, with captain Siya Kolisi sidelined for an extended period. Kolisi suffered a knee injury as Australia rallied from 22 points down in a stunning second-half display and is out of the second test in Cape Town on Saturday and likely the two-match tour to New Zealand that follows. Loose-forward Pieter-Steph du Toit suffered a concussion in the weekend loss and will also miss the second game as he goes through return-to-play protocols. Both wings from the loss, Kurt-Lee Arendse (knee) and Edwill van der Merwe (ankle), are also out of this coming weekend. That should be tempered by the return from injury of experienced wing Cheslin Kolbe. Inside centre Damian de Allende, an important cog in the backline, is also set to be fit after missing Saturday's loss. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team are aware of their shortcomings at Ellis Park as they tried to move the ball too expansively and were picked off by a clinical Australia. "We had a proper meeting and the feeling is frustration," he said on Monday. "But at least we know what we did wrong. That's the most important thing. They totally outplayed us. "If you play beautiful rugby and you lose, you lose. If you play boring rugby and you win, then people are happy. We were totally on the wrong side of that balance on Saturday, and that is not because (attack coach) Tony (Brown) coaches that way. "You tend to think things are easy and there is so much space. Then a proud country like Australia take their opportunities." South Africa will name their second test side on Tuesday. As if the pain of a first defeat to Australia at Ellis Park in 62 years was not enough, South Africa face a heavy injury toll from the 38-22 defeat in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener, with captain Siya Kolisi sidelined for an extended period. Kolisi suffered a knee injury as Australia rallied from 22 points down in a stunning second-half display and is out of the second test in Cape Town on Saturday and likely the two-match tour to New Zealand that follows. Loose-forward Pieter-Steph du Toit suffered a concussion in the weekend loss and will also miss the second game as he goes through return-to-play protocols. Both wings from the loss, Kurt-Lee Arendse (knee) and Edwill van der Merwe (ankle), are also out of this coming weekend. That should be tempered by the return from injury of experienced wing Cheslin Kolbe. Inside centre Damian de Allende, an important cog in the backline, is also set to be fit after missing Saturday's loss. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team are aware of their shortcomings at Ellis Park as they tried to move the ball too expansively and were picked off by a clinical Australia. "We had a proper meeting and the feeling is frustration," he said on Monday. "But at least we know what we did wrong. That's the most important thing. They totally outplayed us. "If you play beautiful rugby and you lose, you lose. If you play boring rugby and you win, then people are happy. We were totally on the wrong side of that balance on Saturday, and that is not because (attack coach) Tony (Brown) coaches that way. "You tend to think things are easy and there is so much space. Then a proud country like Australia take their opportunities." South Africa will name their second test side on Tuesday. As if the pain of a first defeat to Australia at Ellis Park in 62 years was not enough, South Africa face a heavy injury toll from the 38-22 defeat in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener, with captain Siya Kolisi sidelined for an extended period. Kolisi suffered a knee injury as Australia rallied from 22 points down in a stunning second-half display and is out of the second test in Cape Town on Saturday and likely the two-match tour to New Zealand that follows. Loose-forward Pieter-Steph du Toit suffered a concussion in the weekend loss and will also miss the second game as he goes through return-to-play protocols. Both wings from the loss, Kurt-Lee Arendse (knee) and Edwill van der Merwe (ankle), are also out of this coming weekend. That should be tempered by the return from injury of experienced wing Cheslin Kolbe. Inside centre Damian de Allende, an important cog in the backline, is also set to be fit after missing Saturday's loss. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team are aware of their shortcomings at Ellis Park as they tried to move the ball too expansively and were picked off by a clinical Australia. "We had a proper meeting and the feeling is frustration," he said on Monday. "But at least we know what we did wrong. That's the most important thing. They totally outplayed us. "If you play beautiful rugby and you lose, you lose. If you play boring rugby and you win, then people are happy. We were totally on the wrong side of that balance on Saturday, and that is not because (attack coach) Tony (Brown) coaches that way. "You tend to think things are easy and there is so much space. Then a proud country like Australia take their opportunities." South Africa will name their second test side on Tuesday.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Rare failure for Aussie great in record Hundred defeat
There are Australians everywhere you look in England's Hundred Women competition, often in key roles batting, bowling, wicketkeeping and captaining, testament to the country's pre-eminence in the women's game. However, there is one team without an Aussie, Southampton-based Southern Brave, and as the competition moves to the business end they are leading after five wins in five. Their latest victory was over Oval Invincibles, who proved far from invincible in an 89-run dubbing on Monday, a tournament record loss. A key factor in their defeat was a rare failure by Australian great Meg Lanning, this year's leading scorer who came into the match with 200 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 1.58. However, she fell for a four-ball two, bowled by a superb ball from Sophie Devine, the Kiwi's delivery straightening off a good length to beat Lanning's outside edge and clip the top of off. While this was Lanning's first failure she has produced diminishing returns with successive scores of 85, 56, 36 and 23 previously. Three balls later Devine dismissed opening partner and skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill for 10 and Invincibles, chasing Brave's 6-161 off their 100 balls, never recovered. Top-scorer was Australian Amanda Jade-Wellington, who made a run-a-ball unbeaten 18 while wickets tumbled around her. Devine took 2-15, leading wicket-taker Lauren Bell 2-11 and Mady Villiers 3-17 as the visitors were dismissed for 72. Put in to bat Brave, who are coached by South Australian Luke Williams, got off to a strong start with English openers Maya Bouchier (34 off 23) and Danni Wyatt (26 off 24) putting on 59 off the first 38 balls. South African Laura Wolvaardt (36 off 19) built on that platform until she was third out at 123, caught by Lanning off Jade-Wellington (1-25 off 15 balls). Freya Kemp then provided a late boost with 24 off 11. The leaders will go straight into the August 31 Lord's final while second and third in the eight-team ladder play an eliminator. There are Australians everywhere you look in England's Hundred Women competition, often in key roles batting, bowling, wicketkeeping and captaining, testament to the country's pre-eminence in the women's game. However, there is one team without an Aussie, Southampton-based Southern Brave, and as the competition moves to the business end they are leading after five wins in five. Their latest victory was over Oval Invincibles, who proved far from invincible in an 89-run dubbing on Monday, a tournament record loss. A key factor in their defeat was a rare failure by Australian great Meg Lanning, this year's leading scorer who came into the match with 200 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 1.58. However, she fell for a four-ball two, bowled by a superb ball from Sophie Devine, the Kiwi's delivery straightening off a good length to beat Lanning's outside edge and clip the top of off. While this was Lanning's first failure she has produced diminishing returns with successive scores of 85, 56, 36 and 23 previously. Three balls later Devine dismissed opening partner and skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill for 10 and Invincibles, chasing Brave's 6-161 off their 100 balls, never recovered. Top-scorer was Australian Amanda Jade-Wellington, who made a run-a-ball unbeaten 18 while wickets tumbled around her. Devine took 2-15, leading wicket-taker Lauren Bell 2-11 and Mady Villiers 3-17 as the visitors were dismissed for 72. Put in to bat Brave, who are coached by South Australian Luke Williams, got off to a strong start with English openers Maya Bouchier (34 off 23) and Danni Wyatt (26 off 24) putting on 59 off the first 38 balls. South African Laura Wolvaardt (36 off 19) built on that platform until she was third out at 123, caught by Lanning off Jade-Wellington (1-25 off 15 balls). Freya Kemp then provided a late boost with 24 off 11. The leaders will go straight into the August 31 Lord's final while second and third in the eight-team ladder play an eliminator. There are Australians everywhere you look in England's Hundred Women competition, often in key roles batting, bowling, wicketkeeping and captaining, testament to the country's pre-eminence in the women's game. However, there is one team without an Aussie, Southampton-based Southern Brave, and as the competition moves to the business end they are leading after five wins in five. Their latest victory was over Oval Invincibles, who proved far from invincible in an 89-run dubbing on Monday, a tournament record loss. A key factor in their defeat was a rare failure by Australian great Meg Lanning, this year's leading scorer who came into the match with 200 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 1.58. However, she fell for a four-ball two, bowled by a superb ball from Sophie Devine, the Kiwi's delivery straightening off a good length to beat Lanning's outside edge and clip the top of off. While this was Lanning's first failure she has produced diminishing returns with successive scores of 85, 56, 36 and 23 previously. Three balls later Devine dismissed opening partner and skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill for 10 and Invincibles, chasing Brave's 6-161 off their 100 balls, never recovered. Top-scorer was Australian Amanda Jade-Wellington, who made a run-a-ball unbeaten 18 while wickets tumbled around her. Devine took 2-15, leading wicket-taker Lauren Bell 2-11 and Mady Villiers 3-17 as the visitors were dismissed for 72. Put in to bat Brave, who are coached by South Australian Luke Williams, got off to a strong start with English openers Maya Bouchier (34 off 23) and Danni Wyatt (26 off 24) putting on 59 off the first 38 balls. South African Laura Wolvaardt (36 off 19) built on that platform until she was third out at 123, caught by Lanning off Jade-Wellington (1-25 off 15 balls). Freya Kemp then provided a late boost with 24 off 11. The leaders will go straight into the August 31 Lord's final while second and third in the eight-team ladder play an eliminator.
