Crocs win record fourth regional championship

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The Australian Crocs have made history after becoming the first country to win four FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup gold medals after dominating China 85-58 in the final at MBank arena in Mongolia.

It is Australia's fourth title in a row with the win helping the Crocs eclipse China, who have won the tournament three times.

The Crocs' victory builds on an already successful year or Australia at major international tournaments after the Opals and Boomers both won the Asia Cup and the Gems claimed silver at the FIBA U19 World Cup earlier this year.

Key Details

• Result: Australia 85 def. China 58
• Where: MBank arena, Mongolia (MGL)

By the Numbers

• Luke Paul (Australia) was named MVP of the tournament and starred in the final with 26 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals in 27 minutes.
• Yizhaojie Zhang (China) scored 13 points, had five rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 36 minutes.

What Happened

Australia used a second-half explosion to run away from China and secure a 27-point victory in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup final.

The Crocs, who struggled in the first half as they went into the main break with a slender 34-33 lead, completely dominated the last 20 minutes of the contest, winning the last two quarters 51-25 as their opponents could not keep up.

Australia showcased their superior skills on both ends of the court, particularly on the boards where they outrebounded China by a substantial 60-30 margin.

Western Australia's Luke Paul delivered an exceptional performance for Australia, shooting an outstanding 10-from-14 from the field, including a perfect 1-from-1 from beyond the arc. His all-round game was on full display as he nearly recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in just 27 minutes of action.

Australia's bench provided significant contributions, with Antonio Henry Browne adding 14 points and eight rebounds, while William Hamilton chipped in with 16 points and eight boards. Lucas Byrne was particularly efficient, shooting 5-from-6 from the field for 11 points along with seven rebounds and three steals.

The Australian offense clicked effectively, shooting 44 per cent from the field overall and an impressive 50 per cent on two-point attempts. Their dominance in the paint was evident, outscoring China by attacking the basket consistently. Defensively, Australia forced 10 turnovers while committing 16 of their own, but their rebounding advantage, particularly on the offensive glass (18-5), created numerous second-chance opportunities.

China struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout the game, shooting just 33 per cent from the field and a dismal 16 per cent from three-point range. Yizhaojie Zhang led the Chinese effort with 13 points on 5-from-11 shooting, but received little support from his teammates. Ziyi Zhang added nine points and seven rebounds, while Yuxiu Chen contributed nine points, five assists and two steals in the losing effort.

Hamilton was also included in the tournament's All-Star Five alongside Paul.