The Season 102 Senior World Cup concluded with an impressive victory by the Chinese national team, coached by WelkinLiu, as they secured the championship by defeating Spain 62-56 in a tightly contested final. This marks another milestone for China, cementing their position as a basketball powerhouse on the global stage.
 

China's Road to Glory

China showcased their dominance throughout the tournament, starting playoffs with a commanding 74-57 victory over Peru in the quarterfinals. They continued their strong form in the semifinals, edging past Hong Kong 77-68. In the final, their disciplined defense and balanced scoring proved decisive against a resilient Spanish team.

Coach WelkinLiu reflected on the team’s performance: "The World Cup is a great event for all countries. The Chinese team played at a normal level in this competition. Moving forward, we aim to diversify our players and improve their ball control and perimeter shooting to reach even greater heights."

The standout player for China was Mad Ghost, who earned MVP honors for his consistent performances, averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
 

Spain's Tactical Brilliance Falls Just Short

Spain, led by coach nofixations, delivered an exceptional campaign despite narrowly missing out on the title. Their path included a dominant 82-65 win over Taiwan in the quarterfinals and a hard-fought 71-64 victory against Lithuania in the semifinals. Spain’s tactical diversity and reliance on younger players were evident throughout the tournament. Coach nofixations expressed pride in his team’s performance, emphasizing their potential for future success.

Despite falling short in the final, coach nofixations expressed pride in his team:"It’s extremely difficult to take a team after winning. We had to leave out some key players and bring in younger ones with complementary skills for tactical diversity. Even though we lost the lottery of the final game, I’m very happy with our performance. People are no longer surprised seeing Spain on top—that’s a great success."

 

Hong Kong Secures Third Place

Hong Kong emerged as one of the tournament's surprises, clinching third place with a 74-67 win over Lithuania. CoachM0329 attributed their success to team chemistry and years of development, with many players having played together since their teenage years: "Moving forward, we need to focus on fostering an offensive and defensive mindset among our talented players." 

 

Other Notable Performances

One of the tournament favourites Lithuania finished fourth after falling to Hong Kong in the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Croatia turned heads by finishing seventh despite being ranked 15th before the competition. Coach MarkoIvica described it as a historic achievement for their small basketball community: "We were the biggest surprise of the tournament! Ranked 15th but finished seventh—it’s incredible for us given our limited resources and small basketball scene."

France also showed promise under coach Lutincompris, who highlighted steady progress:
"The French NT achieved decent results considering our conditions. We’re working on building tactical flexibility to create surprises against top countries."
 

Final Standings

The top eight teams of the tournament were:

1. China (Coach: WelkinLiu)

2. Spain (Coach: nofixations)

3. Hong Kong (Coach: CoachM0329)

4. Lithuania Men (Coach: Gudrioji Lape)

5. Taiwan Men (Coach: Haley)

6. France Men (Coach: Lutincompris)

7. Croatia Men (Coach: MarkoIvica)

8. Peru Men (Coach: Kambala)
    

Looking Ahead

As teams reflect on their performances, many coaches are optimistic about future improvements. Coach WelkinLiu highlighted China’s focus on diversifying player skills and enhancing perimeter shooting, while Spain’s coach emphasized their young roster’s potential for growth.

This year’s World Cup not only crowned China as champions but also showcased emerging talent and tactical innovation across nations, promising an exciting future for international basketball competition.