One inch short, but a huge step forward — Team China’s near-miss at the FIBA Asia Cup has served its tough rebuild a timely boost, heralding a new dawn at the end of a long night for Chinese basketball.
差之毫厘，却是重大一步——在经历漫漫长夜后，中国篮球的黎明曙光初现。中国男篮在FIBA亚洲杯上的惜败，为其艰难的重建进程及时注入了动力。
In what was their first appearance in the continental showpiece final in a decade, the Chinese men’s team did the country as proud on Sunday as they had by winning the 2015 edition in Changsha. However, this time around, they came up just short, falling to a narrow 90–89 defeat to Australia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
这是中国男篮十年来首次亮相这项亚洲顶级赛事的决赛。上周日（在沙特吉达），他们如同2015年在长沙夺冠时一样，让国人倍感自豪。然而这一次，他们功亏一篑，以89–90的微弱劣势惜败于澳大利亚队。
It was just a few centimeters short, to be precise, after China’s leading scorer Hu Mingxuan’s 3-point attempt to win the game hit the rim at the buzzer, leaving the hard-cheering, red-clad crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City deflated.
确切地说，只差了几厘米——在终场哨响之际，中国队头号得分手胡明轩试图绝杀比赛的三分球砸筐而出，让在阿卜杜拉国王体育城身着红色助威服、热情呐喊的中国球迷们倍感失落。
Although unable to bring home its second title in 10 years, what would have been a 17th overall, Team China left the tournament with plenty of pride, earning acclaim from fans, media and pundits alike for putting up a gusty fight that bodes well for its rebound from a long struggle on the international level.
虽然未能带回十年内的第二个冠军（那本将是队史第17冠），但中国男篮昂首离开了赛场，赢得了球迷、媒体和专家的一致赞誉。他们在比赛中展现出的顽强斗志，预示着这支在国际赛场长期挣扎的队伍即将迎来强势反弹。
By edging out New Zealand in the semifinals and pushing the world No 7 Boomers to the verge of a huge upset on Sunday, the young Chinese squad, currently ranked 30th in FIBA world rankings, has done more than enough to prove its recovered prowess on a continental stage that has included the two Oceania countries since 2017.
这支目前在国际篮联（FIBA）世界排名第30位的年轻队伍，在半决赛力克新西兰队后，又在周日将世界排名第7的澳大利亚队逼至险遭爆冷的边缘。自2017年起亚洲杯赛制扩军吸纳两个大洋洲国家参赛，中国队在这样的洲际舞台上所展现的竞争力回升，已足以证明其强劲的复苏势头。
It was a supreme team effort but leading the way for China was Hu, who carried the offensive load with 26 points and five three-pointers, while veteran big man Hu Jinqiu supplied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that kept his team in contention until the final seconds.
这是一次卓越的团队努力。领军人物是胡明轩，他扛起了进攻重任，砍下26分并命中5记三分球。而老将内线胡金秋贡献了20分和10个篮板的两双数据，使球队战斗到了最后一秒。
Australia’s star forward Xavier Cooks led the Boomers with a game-high 30 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting to go with nine rebounds, and constantly broke down China’s defense with his drives. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
澳大利亚队的明星前锋泽维尔·库克斯（Xavier Cooks）以全场最高的30分（17投13中，效率极高）和9个篮板引领球队获胜，并不断通过突破撕裂中国队的防线。他当选为本场比赛最有价值球员（MVP）。
Jaylin Galloway, playing in his first Asia Cup final, also rose to the occasion, drilling six 3s on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. He was later named the tournament’s MVP and nominated in the All-Star Five along with fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh.
首次参加亚洲杯决赛的杰林·加洛韦（Jaylin Galloway）同样表现出色，命中6记三分球，全场得到23分和5个篮板。他最终当选为本届赛事的MVP，并与队友杰克·麦克维（Jack McVeigh）一同入选了最佳阵容五人组。
China’s Hu and young forward Wang Junjie were also named on the tournament’s All-Star Five.
中国队的胡明轩和年轻前锋王俊杰也入选了本届赛事的最佳阵容五人组。
“I think our performance at this tournament has been a shot in the arm for our young team and will, for sure, boost our confidence to come back strong on the world stage,” said Team China head coach Guo Shiqiang.
中国队主教练郭士强表示：“我认为我们这次比赛的表现，对我们这支年轻的队伍来说是一剂强心剂。这必将增强我们的信心，让我们在世界舞台上强势归来。”
1. herald v. 前兆；预示
2. continental adj. 大陆的
3. rim n. （通常圆形物的）边，缘，边缘
4. buzzer n. 终场哨
5. deflate v. 使泄气；使沮丧
6. acclaim n. 赞扬；称赞
7. pundit n. 专家；评论家
8. gusty adj. 有阵风在吹的；刮风的
9. bode v. 预示；为……的兆头
10. rebound n. 弹回；反弹
11. edge out 渐渐胜过；逐步排挤掉
12. semifinal n. 半决赛
13. squad n. （从中选拔运动员代表的）运动队
14. offensive adj. （体育比赛中）进攻的（熟词僻义）
15. veteran adj. 经验丰富的
16. contention n. 争夺；竞争
17. rebound n. 篮板球
One inch short, but a huge step forward — Team China’s near-miss at the FIBA Asia Cup has served its tough 1. __________ a timely boost, heralding a new dawn at the end of a long night for Chinese basketball.
In what was their first appearance in the continental showpiece final in a decade, the Chinese men’s team did the country as 2. __________ on Sunday as they had by winning the 2015 edition in Changsha. However, this time around, they came up just short, falling to a narrow 90–89 defeat to Australia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was just a few centimeters short, to be precise, after China’s leading scorer Hu Mingxuan’s 3-point attempt to win the game hit the rim at the buzzer, leaving the hard-cheering, red-clad 3. __________ at the King Abdullah Sports City deflated.
Although unable to bring home its second title in 10 years, what would have been a 17th overall, Team China left the tournament with plenty of pride, 4. __________ acclaim from fans, media and pundits alike for putting up a gusty fight that bodes well for its rebound from a long struggle on the international level.
By edging out New Zealand in the semifinals and pushing the world No 7 Boomers to the verge of a huge upset on Sunday, the young Chinese squad, currently ranked 30th in FIBA world rankings, has done more than enough to prove its 5. __________ prowess on a continental stage that has included the two Oceania countries since 2017.
It was a supreme team effort but leading the way for China was Hu, who carried the offensive load with 26 points and five three-pointers, while veteran big man Hu Jinqiu 6. __________ a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that kept his team in contention until the final seconds.
Australia’s star forward Xavier Cooks led the Boomers with a game-high 30 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting to go with 7. __________ rebounds, and constantly broke down China’s defense with his drives. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Jaylin Galloway, playing in his first Asia Cup final, also rose to the 8. __________, drilling six 3s on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. He was later named the tournament’s MVP and 9. __________ in the All-Star Five along with fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh.
China’s Hu and young forward Wang Junjie were also named on the tournament’s All-Star Five.
“I think our performance at this tournament has been a shot in the arm for our young team and will, for sure, boost our 10. __________ to come back strong on the world stage,” said Team China head coach Guo Shiqiang.
1. rebuild
2. proud
3. crowd
4. earning
5. recovered
6. supplied
7. nine
8. occasion
9. nominated
10. confidence
One inch short, but a huge step forward — Team China’s near-miss at the FIBA Asia Cup has served its tough rebuild a timely boost, 1. _____________ (herald) a new dawn at the end of a long night for Chinese basketball.
In what was their first appearance in the continental showpiece final in a decade, the Chinese men’s team did the country as proud on Sunday as they had by winning the 2015 edition in Changsha. 2. _____________, this time around, they came up just short, falling to a narrow 90–89 defeat to Australia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was just a few centimeters short, to be precise, after China’s leading 3. _____________ (score) Hu Mingxuan’s 3-point attempt to win the game hit the rim at the buzzer, leaving the hard-cheering, red-clad crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City deflated.
Although unable to bring home its second title in 10 years, 4. _____________ would have been a 17th overall, Team China left the tournament with plenty of pride, earning acclaim from fans, media and pundits alike for putting up a gusty fight that bodes well for its rebound from a long struggle on the international level.
By edging 5. _____________ New Zealand in the semifinals and pushing the world No 7 Boomers to the verge of a huge upset on Sunday, the young Chinese squad, currently ranked 30th in FIBA world rankings, has done more than enough to prove its recovered prowess on a continental stage that 6. _____________ (include) the two Oceania countries since 2017.
It was a supreme team effort but leading the way for China was Hu, who 7. _____________ (carry) the offensive load with 26 points and five three-pointers, while veteran big man Hu Jinqiu supplied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that kept his team in contention until the final seconds.
Australia’s star forward Xavier Cooks led the Boomers with a game-high 30 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting to go with nine rebounds, and 8. _____________ (constant) broke down China’s defense with his drives. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Jaylin Galloway, playing in his first Asia Cup final, also rose to 9. _____________ occasion, drilling six 3s on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. He was later named the tournament’s MVP and nominated in the All-Star Five along with fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh.
China’s Hu and young forward Wang Junjie were also named on the tournament’s All-Star Five.
“I think our 10. _____________ (perform) at this tournament has been a shot in the arm for our young team and will, for sure, boost our confidence to come back strong on the world stage,” said Team China head coach Guo Shiqiang.
1. heralding
2. However
3. scorer
4. what
5. out
6. has included
7. carried
8. constantly
9. the
10. performance
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