Host's hoopsters flop

China successfully staged the 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup between Aug 31 and Sept 15, with Spain crowned champion after defeating Argentina 95-75 in the final. However, on the court it proved to be a miserable tournament for the host team－captained by Yi Jianlian (pictured with CBA chairman Yao Ming)－as it failed to reach the knockout stage with just two wins from five group games to lose Asia's only direct qualification spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to Iran.