The madness is real! 84-60, the first semifinalist of the Men's Basketball Asian Cup has been determined: Australia triumphs over the Philippines!

On August 13, Beijing time, the quarterfinals of the Men's Basketball Asian Cup unfolded, concluding a fierce contest for a semifinal berth. The reigning champions, the Australian men's basketball team, surged ahead with full force, overpowering the Philippines 84-60. They achieved a strong four-game winning streak and advanced to the semifinals effortlessly, just two games away from defending their championship!

The Australian men's basketball team is a powerhouse, ranked seventh in the world, boasting numerous players from the NBA. Competing as the defending champions in this tournament, they did not call up NBA players, yet still possess a wealth of talent. In the group stage, they dominated their three matches to secure a spot in the top eight. In the quarterfinals, they faced the Philippines, ranked 34th globally. Although the Philippines has significant competitive strength in Asia, having won the Hangzhou Asian Games, they struggled in the group stage and briefly fell to third place. However, they pulled off a surprising upset in the playoffs, defeating the host nation, Saudi Arabia, to advance to the top eight. Overall, the Australian men's team clearly outmatches the Philippines, making it tough for them to compete—it's just a matter of how many points they'll lose by!

From the start of the game, the Australian men's basketball team quickly adopted an aggressive strategy, showcasing exceptional defense in the first quarter with a score of 29-12. In the second quarter, both teams had similar shooting percentages, with Australia slightly ahead, leading by 20 points at halftime. As the second half resumed, both teams continued to engage in a tug-of-war, with the score difference hovering around 20 points. In the final quarter, the Australian team maintained their solid performance, firmly holding onto their substantial lead, ultimately overwhelming the Philippines. All five starters scored in double digits, leading them to the semifinals!

Congratulations to the Australian men's basketball team; they are truly impressive! With four consecutive wins, they've secured a spot in the semifinals. It's worth noting that this isn't even the strongest version of the Australian team. Nevertheless, they have dominated the Asian stage, leaving many in awe. With so much basketball talent, after advancing to the semifinals, Australia will face the winner between Chinese Taipei and Iran for a chance to compete in the finals. Let's stay tuned!

By/ Sports Novel