Hosts China finish fourth at FIBA Asia Cup

Hosts China ended their 5th FIBA Asia Cup campaign with a 79-80 loss to the Philippines here to finish fourth in the basketball tournament.

China started the game Saturday night with two three-pointers from Gao Shang. A 9-0 run later helped China to enlarge their lead to 10 points, reports Xinhua.

It was a tight game again at the beginning of the second quarter when Belga of Philippines hit all his four shooting attempts to tie the game again 33-33.

Then Kelanbaike Makan from China responded with a same one-man-show with his 10 points. China took the lead again with 44-38 at the end of the first half.

China led all the way through the second half until the Philippines made it 77-77 in the last minute. Kelanbaike then hit two free-throws to help China have a two-point advantage.

However, Wang Zirui missed both free throws before Kelanbaike fouled Dalistan Paul John behind the arc. The point guard hit all three free throws at the death to help his team beat China 80-79.