Latest standings in women's basketball World Cup qualifiers: Chinese women's team rises to second place after 84-74 win over Czech Republic, Belgium remains undefeated.

On March 16 Beijing time, the women's basketball World Cup qualifiers saw fierce battles in three key games. Mali was overturned by Brazil 73-76, South Sudan suffered a heavy defeat to Belgium 64-102, and Czech Republic fell to China 84-74. As a result, the latest group standings are out: Belgium tops with four straight wins, China moves up to second, Czech Republic and Brazil occupy third and fourth places, Mali is fifth, and South Sudan sits at the bottom after four consecutive losses.

Mali versus Brazil. This match was full of dramatic twists and turns. Brazil held a slight edge in the first quarter, leading by five points. However, Mali rallied in the second and third quarters with multiple players contributing, gradually overtaking and extending the lead to 14 points by the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, Mali suddenly collapsed and went silent, while Brazil launched a fierce counterattack, scoring a 28-11 run to seal the game, ultimately securing a narrow 3-point victory.

South Sudan versus Belgium. The bottom-ranked team faced the group leader, and the outcome was predictable. Belgium dominated the first three quarters with a powerful, coordinated offensive that overwhelmed South Sudan, continuously widening the gap and turning the game into a rout. In the final quarter, Belgium eased off, and South Sudan fought hard to salvage some pride, but still suffered a 38-point defeat, remaining at the bottom with four losses, while Belgium maintained its top position with four consecutive wins.

Czech Republic versus China. Both teams had 2 wins and 1 loss after three rounds, making this match crucial for the second-place spot. However, before the game, both sides had already secured their World Cup tickets, so the result became less critical, mainly affecting the top-two ranking. China maintained a slight advantage throughout, with the margin not too large. In the decisive final quarter, Czech Republic mounted a fierce comeback, but coach Gong Luming's decisions were questionable. Fortunately, veteran Wang Siyu stepped up for China, displaying sharp accuracy and scoring 9 consecutive points to halt Czech's surge, allowing China to secure a tense victory and climb to second place.

By Sports Fiction.