Photo: Cui Meng/GT

The Chinese women's national basketball team finished their FIBA Asia Cup campaign in third place after defeating South Korea 101-66 in the third-place playoff on Sunday.

Five Chinese players reached double digits in scoring, including 18-year-old center Zhang Ziyu, who contributed 18 points and seven rebounds to the win.

The Chinese team led the first and second quarters with 31-14 and 27-15, having a 29-point margin before the second half. China added 29 points more in the third quarter when South Korea strengthened their offense to score 19 points, after which South Korea only managed to score one point more than China in the last quarter for a 18-19.

Head coach Gong Luming viewed the third-place finish as a "passing grade" but emphasized the broader lessons.   

"Although we didn't achieve the goal of winning the championship this time, in terms of the team's development, the experience gained is actually more important for future growth," Gong told reporters. 

"We have indeed identified many shortcomings in ourselves, such as passing, shooting, and tactical awareness, all of which are areas that require significant improvement."

He said that the tournament was a "small test" for the team in their preparation for the 2028 Olympics, before singling out 2.26-meter-tall Zhang's potential.

"She has absolute height and can transform the team's dynamics, but this was her first senior-level tournament," he noted. 

Chinese player Zhang Ziyu (second from left) competes for a rebound in the FIBA Asia Cup against South Korea in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, on July 20, 2025. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

While praising her "excellent court vision and long passes" against South Korea, Gong highlighted areas for her improvement. "Her strength in the paint and defensive coverage need work. We'll focus on expanding her offensive repertoire and integrating her more seamlessly into team schemes," he said.

Star guard Yang Shuyu, who averaged 15.3 points and 3.8 assists in the tournament, echoed Gong's sentiment. 

"There's definitely regret, especially playing at home, but this is a new team with a new system," she said. 

Most of the Chinese players burst into tears during the bronze medal award ceremony. This is the fourth time the team has finished in third place since 1976 when they first participated in the Asia Cup.

"We need to address our defensive weaknesses, especially when leveraging our advantage in the paint. It's a process," said Yang, who scored 17 points against South Korea. She credited teamwork for her success. 

"I'm grateful for the coaches' trust and my teammates' assists. Basketball is a team sport, no single player can carry the load," she noted.  

Describing the tournament as a "starting point," she emphasized adaptability. 

"The game is fast and intense. As a player, I need more scoring tools, especially in transition. Combining our speed with Zhang's presence could be a game-changer." 

Sunday's win comes after the Chinese team's 90-81 loss to Japan in the semifinals on Saturday.

After the defeat to Japan, Gong noted that his players offered the opponents space to exploit from the arc as inconsistent defense appeared.

Yang's elder sister and teammate  Yang Liwei also noted the team's resilience in bouncing back from the defeat. 

"While there's regret, the most important thing is that we gained experience along the way," she said. "This tournament brought learning, accumulation, and problem-solving. The result isn't everything. It's whether we can do better next time."

Gong's three-month-long training regimen, which included a "10,000 shots" program in Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province to refine the players' shooting mechanics, laid the groundwork for China's offensive firepower. 

Zhang's emergence as a generational talent anchors China's future. At 18, she already towers at 2.26 meters and possesses rare court sense for her size. In youth competitions, she dominated with 44-point, 14-rebound performances, earning comparisons to legend Yao Ming. 

While her defensive mobility remains a liability, Gong plans to gradually integrate her into faster systems. "We won't rush her. Her development will be calibrated for the 2027-28 cycle." 

However, he acknowledged lingering issues. "Our passing, tactical discipline, and interior-exterior coordination require significant improvement. Despite our height, we're still mastering how to play through Zhang without stagnating." 

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March, Gong stressed continuity. 

"Education, management, and training are our pillars. The players' dedication, especially the veterans overcoming injuries, sets the tone. We'll maintain this fighting spirit while addressing technical gaps." 

The 2025 FIBA Asia Cup has seen the Chinese women's basketball team show both strength and areas for improvement. 

In the group stage, the team had a relatively smooth journey, winning all three group matches and advancing directly to the semifinals as group winners. 

Gong experimented with different lineups and tactical plays, including the "twin-tower" combination of Zhang and Han Xu, as well as the center-less lineup.

Zhang was one of the most eye-catching players in this tournament. In the three group matches, she averaged 14.3 points with a shooting percentage as high as 81 percent. 

Her combination with Han, with one being tall and the other flexible, was highly anticipated. However, as Han mentioned, due to the short running-in time, the power of the "twin-tower" combination was not fully exerted.