It's all about pride and determination for Yi, China

CHANGSHA-HUNAN (2016 Rio Olympics) - Something special happened earlier this month for Chinese basketball.

It was there for all to see at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, a steely determination in the eyes of not just one or two China players, but each and every member of the Far East giants, a team that had fallen from the top and not even been among the three sides that represented the continent at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

China, led by veteran coach Gong Luming, came together and played with so much zeal and aggression, and displayed such a relentlessness, that they were almost unrecognizable from the country's teams of the recent past.

They captured the title.

And much of it was owed to the play of the up-and-comers, the ones that few knew about but everyone does now.

Eight members of China's 12-man squad were 25 years old or younger.

Only one player, Liu Wei (35), was older than 27.

Zhou Qi, just 19, played so well that he earned a spot on the All-Star Five and China's floor general, 21-year-old Guo Ailun, joined him.

There was also the consistent and very influential play of Yi Jianlian, who despite his senior team tenure of more than a decade, is still only 27.

He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament and was also in the All-Star Five.

China had to launch a comeback to beat Korea, 76-73, in just their second game but after that, there was no stopping them.

Zhou was magnificent in that triumph.

The result was not just an Asian title, but qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Yi, who has been there for some good times but also bad, like a couple of years ago in Manila, the Philippines, when China were upset in the Quarter-Finals by Chinese Taipei, has never been prouder.

"There were many young players that had not experienced this sort of test and they faced a lot of pressure," he said.

"But we fought for every ball with a tenacious defense to win the championship."

At this tournament, the team was younger, so to win the championship and earn straight qualification for Rio makes me proud and is moving. - Yi

"I have to thank my teammates, the fans and my family."

The triumph could not have come at a better time for China, a country not only looking for a jolt after the disappointment of 2013 but one that is to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Tougher battles are ahead.

The Rio Olympics will bring the best teams from the other continents, including world champions USA.

All China can do is continue to work hard, play the sort of defense that was suffocating at times in Changsha-Hunan and continue to believe in their youngsters, who should only get better.

Rio 2016 is just 10 months away and for Chinese fans, it has to be a very exciting prospect.

FIBA