Powerhouses China and Australia set for showdown in FIBA Asia Cup Final
The game is expected to be an exciting and competitive encounter for both teams, who have met only once before at the FIBA Asia Cup. That was in the 2017 Quarter-Finals, where Australia won convincingly, 97-71.
The 16-time champions China reached the final after beating New Zealand 98-84 in Saturday's semifinal, moving within one victory of retaking the event title for the first time in ten years.
China's performance in Jeddah has been defined by consistency and composure, sweeping Group C before grinding past South Korea in the Quarter-Finals and overpowering New Zealand in the Semi-Finals.
For their part, defending champions Australia overpowered Iran 92-48 in the second Semi-Finals game and extended their unbeaten run to five games.
Since joining the FIBA Asia Cup in 2017, Australia have never lost a game. They bring a flawless 17-0 competition record into this Final.
The Boomers dominated Group A, dispatched the Philippines in the Quarter-Finals and handled Iran in the Semi-Finals without breaking stride.
Coach Adam Caporn's team now stands one win away from a third straight Asia Cup title.
The two losing semi-finalists New Zealand and Iran will go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon for third place. This will be the first-ever FIBA Asia Cup meeting between the two countries.
For Iran, this is about restoring pride and returning to the podium after a generation of dominance earlier in the 21st century.
For New Zealand, it's about maintaining their place among the region's elite and proving they can keep their spot on the podium.
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