Two years ago, at the end of the gold medal game of the 25th FIBA Asia Championship at Tianjin, there was this man who was called all sorts. But down the time, Yi Jianlian has not only silenced those wagging tongues, but also carved a niche for himself in Chinese basketball history – emerging as the leader of a team that has faced its up and down of a team going through transition especially in the post-Yao era.

Now, China’s win over Jordan in the final of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship had more connotations than one. For one, China had automatically qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. The Chinese Dragon had slayed all its rivals – nine in all – and was back at the top of the pecking order in the FIBA Asia Championship for another.

The atmosphere was electric, the support cacophonic, the occasion momentous, nerves scattered all over and most importantly the performance irresistible. Set against that background China’s 70-69 win – albeit nervy and hard-fought – against underdogs Jordan was not only overwhelmingly logical, but also reflective of the way the Dragon had raised its head again in FIBA Asia Championship.

Yi Jianlian of China emerged as the Most Valuable Player as the All Star line-up was drawn on the final day of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship on Sunday.

A blistering final five minutes resurrected Korea from almost death and took the East Asia powerhouse to a 70-68 win against a declining Philippines in the bronze medal play-off on Sunday.