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![China's Yi Jianlian reacts during the final against the Philippines at 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 3, 2015 [Xinhua]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/134682309_14439244156401n.jpg)
China’s Yi Jianlian reacts during the final against the Philippines at 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, Oct. 3, 2015 [Xinhua]
It was the 16th Asian title for the basketball giant and the title guaranteed China a berth in the men’s basketball tournament of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Less than a year from now, the city of Rio de Janeiro will kick off the 2016 Olympic Games, bringing tens of thousands of spectators to the city, and billions of dollars into China’s fellow BRICS member, Brazil.
On Saturday, the Chinese team completed their 11th straight victory of an unbeaten tournament, defeating the Philippines 78-67 in the FIBA Asia Championship final before an ecstatic 7,000-strong capacity home crowd.
Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“I’m happy that we can get the title,” said Chinese head coach Gong Luming, who once guided China to get into the last eight in 1996 Olympics. “We don’t have much experience, but we progressed a lot in the last two years.”
There are no Chinese players currently playing in the NBA after Yi Jianlian left the Dallas Mavericks in 2012.
China will host the men’s basketball World Cup in 2019 for the first time, the world governing body announced in August.
The United States won the previous World Cup in Spain in 2014, beating Serbia in the final. The US also won the last Olympics gold defeating Spain in the 2012 London games.
Source: Agencies
