The Chinese men's and women's national 3x3 basketball teams concluded their FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 campaigns on Sunday night with a pair of hard-fought bronze medals, overcoming semi-final heartbreak to defeat Japan in both third-place matchups.

The women's squad, anchored by 30-year-old veteran center Zhang Zhiting, experienced a rollercoaster final day. In their semi-final clash against defending champion Australia, China dominated early and built a commanding 16-9 lead.

After Zhang Jianping hit a crucial free throw, China stood just one point away from victory at 20-14. However, Australian sharpshooter Amy Atwell sparked a miraculous comeback with three consecutive long-range shots, stunning China 21-20.

Despite the devastating loss, the youthful Chinese roster quickly regrouped to overpower Japan 20-15 in the bronze-medal game. Zhang Zhiting, who was named to the Women's Team of the Tournament for her dominant inside presence and consistent production, expressed immense pride in the team's resilience.

"I am very happy we were able to secure this bronze medal. The semi-final against Australia was certainly a pity, but looking back, our training time together was not too long, and some players were competing in a major tournament for the first time," Zhang said after the tournament.

As a veteran, she is already looking ahead to the World Cup in two months and the broader Olympic cycle.

"My goal is to lead by example. I want to guide this young generation of players so we can charge toward the ultimate Olympic dream together."

On the men's side, a young, U23-led Chinese squad showed equal grit. After edging out Qatar 20-17 in the quarter-finals, they faced a resilient Republic of Korea in the semi-finals.

Unable to contain Korea's perimeter assault, China fell 21-15. Unwilling to leave Singapore empty-handed, the men's team bounced back in a thrilling 22-20 victory over Japan to claim their own bronze medal.

22-year-old sharpshooter Liu Qianhao was instrumental to the team's podium finish, earning a well-deserved spot on the Men's Team of the Tournament. Recognized for his elite perimeter marksmanship that repeatedly shifted the momentum for China, Liu reflected on the squad's rapid maturation.

Having previously noted that the team "was simply too tight" in their opening games, he emphasized how overcoming adversity accelerated their growth.

"Bouncing back has been a massive boost to both our on-court chemistry and our psychological confidence," Liu stated during their run, a mindset that translated into their clutch bronze-medal victory.

While Australia and New Zealand ultimately claimed the women's and men's titles, respectively, China leaves Singapore with significant momentum. By securing double podium finishes, blooding a new generation of talent, and earning crucial ranking points, both programs have laid a solid foundation for the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.