BASKETBALL – AUSTRALIA completed a three-peat after surviving a dramatic 90-89 victory over China in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 final last night at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Xavier Cooks led the way with a monster effort as the Boomers claimed their third straight Fiba Asia Cup crown.
Cooks was unstoppable all night, pouring in 30 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting while also collecting 9 rebounds and constantly breaking down China’s defence with his drives. Jaylin Galloway rose to the occasion in his first Fiba Asia Cup Final, drilling six triples on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. 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 capped by Galloway and McVeigh, 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.
The last ten minutes were nothing short of a thriller. 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.
Earlier, Iran held off a furious late charge from New Zealand to secure a 79-73 win in the third-place game.
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