China's U19 basketball team fell to Slovenia 99-82 in their final FIBA World Cup group stage match in Lausanne, Switzerland, marking their third consecutive loss in Pool B. Despite the setbacks, the team secured a spot in the knockout round and will face New Zealand on Wednesday.
The game began promisingly for China, with Zhu Zheng, Huan Sinan, and Zhang Boyuan combining for an early 6-0 run. Zhang and Chen Jiazheng later extended the lead to 17-8, but Slovenia's sharpshooting duo Leon Ivicic and Urban Kroflic turned the tide with a 10-0 response. The European team dominated with a 13-0 second-quarter run and a 10-0 third-quarter surge, building a 28-point lead at one stage.
Huan Sinan and Ao Feng led China's late-game efforts, each scoring 12 points to narrow the final deficit. Slovenia's 15 three-pointers proved decisive, with Ivicic and Kroflic contributing 36 combined points.
While China's 0-3 group record raises questions about their knockout-stage prospects, their qualification highlights the tournament's competitive structure. Analysts will watch closely to see if adjustments can be made ahead of the New Zealand clash.
