By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ailun Guo scored 19 points, Qing Zhou added 16 and Yi Jianlian had an impressive double double (11 p., 15 r.) as China returned to the Asian top after the 78-67 win over Philippines in the FIBA Asia championship.
Former NBA player Andray Blatche was the only player of the losing side who scored in double digits and finished the game with 17 points. This was the 17th gold medal for China, which returned to the top after the 2013 break under coach Luming Gong and his Greek assistant Ioannis Christopoulos.
Iran beat Japan in the bronze medal game (68-63) and both teams together with the Philippines will play in the pre-olympic tournaments. China, Brasil, USA, Australia, Nigeria, Venezuela, Argentina, Spain and Lithuania have already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games.