Australia progress to FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals with comfortable Philippines win

Defending champions Australia eased into basketball's FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals with an 84-60 win over the Philippines at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, 13 August. After racing to a 48-28 first-half lead, draining 7 of their 11 three-pointers in the opener, the men from Down Under looked in formidable form once again. But their opponents, who went into the game off the back of a dramatic overtime comeback win over hosts Saudi Arabia in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, put on a spirited display to take the third quarter and get back into the game. The cheer was short-lived, however. Australia's superior speed and size played a deciding factor in the fourth quarter, with the Philippines eventually succumbing. Owen Foxwell (188-G-2003) and Jaylin Galloway (198-SF-2002) topped the scoring charts for the Boomers with 15 points each, with five players hitting double figures in total for their team. Quiambao Kevin (193-SF-2001) was the Philippines' biggest threat with 17 points and 4 rebounds. Australia have yet to lose a single FIBA Asia Cup game since joining the competition in 2017, and will enter their final four showdown against the winner of New Zealand versus Lebanon in Thursday's (14 August) quarter-final as the strong favourites once more.
Courtesy of: olympics.com