• The top three teams during the last FIBA Asia Championship.

The top three teams during the last FIBA Asia Championship. (Photo : FIBA Website/Gilas Pilipinas Facebook)

China won the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship after their victory against the Philippines 78-67 in the men's basketball final, ending their four-year Asian champion drought.

Having taken part in 21 Asian Championships since 1975, it was China's 16th Asian title and one that secured them a slot in the men's basketball tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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The Philippines, having lost in the finals, finished as the competition's runner-up, while the 2013 defending champion Iran beat Japan to finish third.

China made full use of both its height and home-court advantage against the Philippines, having 46 rebounds, while their opponents only made 28.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian, who finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Guo Ailun scored the most points on the team with 17 points, while 19-year-old Zhou Qi scored 16 points and made 11 rebounds.

Andray Blatche was the only player on the Philippines side to score double digits, scoring 17 points.

"We are a young team, and we are proud to get the chance to get into the Rio Olympics," said Yi. "We are clearly aware of our goods and bads, so we put the focus on the defensive side."

"We are welcoming a new era. Not the best, nor the worst, but definitely the most hopeful era," Yi added.

The Philippines started off the game leading 5-0, maintaining their advantage to 15-10 before China responded with a 7-0 burst to take the lead. The host team ended the first quarter leading 23-19.

China continued strong never losing the lead. During the second quarter, Chinese players Zhao Jiwei, Li Gen and Zhai Xiaochuan scored a series of three-pointers to extend China's lead by as much as 12 points.

After halftime, the Philippines were able to cut the lead to eight points, but Li's persistent three-pointers helped China lead 60-44.

Blatche tried to lead a solo charge during the fourth quarter, but it was not enough, and China maintained its two-digit lead until the end.