Thirteen years ago, at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippine capital Manila, the Chinese men's national basketball team suffered a rare defeat to Chinese Taipei.

On Sunday night, on the same court, it ensured history would not repeat itself.

China rallied to defeat Chinese Taipei 100–93, claiming its 16th win in 17 meetings between the pair and closing the second window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers with consecutive comeback victories.

Just three days earlier, China had overturned a second-quarter 14-point deficit to beat Japan on the road. Against Chinese Taipei, they did it again — this time under heavier psychological weight, on a floor ingrained with bad memories.

After dropping both home-and-away games to South Korea in the first qualifying window, China entered this stretch with little margin for error. Two defeats had left its campaign precarious. Now, two hard-earned comebacks have wrested back control of its qualification destiny.

The fourth quarter against Chinese Taipei distilled the team's resurgence into a single moment. With the deficit lingering and momentum slipping away, guard Zhao Jiwei launched an audacious, ultra-deep three-pointer that snapped through the net to tie the game. The shot steadied the team and reset the rhythm of the game.

"These two games were extremely difficult for us. You could say we pulled ourselves back from the edge of a cliff," Zhao said afterward.

"For the players, and for the team, these two games are very meaningful. I believe we've all gained something from them. We've experienced transformation, unprecedented unity and fighting spirit."

Zhao had played a similar role days earlier against Japan, knocking down consecutive clutch three-pointers to spark another comeback. The qualifier marked his return to the national side after injury forced him to miss last year's Asian Cup, and he responded with authority rather than trepidation.

"I hope these two games will be a wake-up call. The competition is not over — this is only the qualifiers," he said.

"In the next phase, we still have two more games and crossover matches. We still have a long road ahead."

Head coach Guo Shiqiang framed Sunday's contest as a test of preparation and resolve.

"Before the game, I told the team we had to be prepared for every possibility. A 40-minute game requires a fight to the very last possession, in both offense and defense, to secure victory," Guo said.

"Today's game wasn't decided until the very end. This is a team victory.

"The team has strong cohesion. Our resilience, willpower and belief in fighting for our country enabled us to win. I'm very grateful to my players and to every member of the staff."

The difference showed up in the numbers. While Chinese Taipei relied on just seven players, China rotated all 12, sustaining physical intensity deep into the fourth quarter. China's hallmark size advantage again proved decisive, as it outrebounded its opponent by 15, and controlled the paint during crucial periods.

Two unlikely contributors stood out. Zhu Junlong shot 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Li Hongquan grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Their two-way impact tilted critical stretches of the game.

Former Liaoning Flying Leopards head coach Yang Ming praised the forwards' collective impact.

"Zhu, Li and He Xining had a huge impact on both offense and defense at different stages of the game. It's rare in recent years for the Chinese men's team to win through the collective performance of its forwards," Yang said.

"I hope these young players can play freely, withstand pressure and complete their redemption in the toughest moments. Keep pushing forward and accomplish the initial goal of qualifying for the World Cup."

Chinese Taipei, however, refused to fade away. CBA standouts Ray Chen and Benson Lin scored 26 and 21 points respectively, keeping the contest alive until the final minutes. Chen's performance carried additional significance given his close relationship with Guo.

"Chen and I share a strong teacher-student bond. After I left the Liaoning team to coach the Guangzhou Loong Lions, we lived and trained together for four years," Guo said.

"I witnessed his steady growth and improvement over those four years. In the past two seasons, he has performed exceptionally well. Chinese Taipei played very well tonight, and I wish them all the best going forward."

In both games this window, China trailed before regaining control, doing so on Sunday in the final minutes. Guo said that response reflects an identity long associated with the national program.

"The older generations of the team had a proud tradition. We relied on unity and cohesion to win. This new squad is selfless — nobody cares about individual statistics or playing time," he said.

That mentality was reinforced during preparation. From Feb 5, China conducted a 19-day closed-door training camp — the longest among the other competing teams in this window.

Players sacrificed time with their families during the Spring Festival holiday, remaining fully committed until the qualifiers tipped off.

Guo also expressed gratitude to Chinese fans who followed the team on the road.

"Our fans are our sixth man. With their cheers in the arena, we gain more strength and confidence. After every game, we thank the fans who come to support us," he said.

The third qualifying window will see the adversaries of the past round face Team China on its home court, with Japan set to visit on July 3 and the cross-Strait clash with Chinese Taipei due to tip off on July 6.