Australia, China set for early FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2019 heavyweight clash

BENGALURU (India) - Two basketball powerhouses in Australia and China are set to collide once again. However, this time it will be in Bengaluru, India and the first time these two teams clash at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.

The match up between these two teams was the 2017 finals matchup that nearly happened before the eventual champions Japan rallied back to beat China in the Semi-finals, 74-71. It stalled out an anticipated match up for fans of both countries out for another year, until they finally faced each other at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018.

(Cayla George, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018)

It was the first time the two faced each other in the World Cup since 2002 and the Opals were clearly fired up to play against their Quarter-finals opponents. Riding on the force of Liz Cambage’s 20 points and 9 rebounds, Australia cruised on to an 83-42 win and rode that momentum on all the way to the championship game.

Another year later and the two teams are scheduled to go head-to-head again in the Group Phase of the Women’s Asia Cup. Team China are returning 7 players from the World Cup squad in hopes of getting revenge, especially Li Yueru who had 12 points and 6 rebounds in that previous match up.

(Li Yueru, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018)

Australia are also returning a majority of their World Cup team with 6 players, though they are without their star center Cambage this time. Nonetheless, they will have Rebecca Allen who was the second leading scorer with 16 points. Another positive note for the Opals heading into heavyweight Group B game is that the two had faced in an exhibition game less than a week prior in Canberra.

Australia emerged victorious once again 98-63 led by 20 points from their star 20-year-old, Ezi Magbegor. The former U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup MVP started her first Asia Cup off the right foot with 16 points in her debut game and should be expect to shoulder a larger load of responsibility in the big game.

“We are one of the best teams in the world and we have high aspirations,” said coach Sandy Brondello after the aforementioned exhibition match as per Basketball Australia (BAS). To achieve those aspirations, they will have to get through China here at the Asia Cup.

FIBA