"Compete the right way": How Sapphires completed Aussie dominance in Asia

• The Australian Sapphires beat New Zealand 86-50 to win gold at the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup in Malaysia
• Sapphires stars Madison Ryan and Isabel Smith were named in the tournament's All-Star Five
• By the numbers: Sapphires player snapshot

The Australian Sapphires dominated the FIBA Under-16 Women's Asia Cup like no one else has before.

Recording wins by margins of 81, 79, 80, 28 and 36 on their way to a fourth straight gold medal in the region, it's easy to see how coach and former NBL player Tom Garlepp would be impressed by his team's performances.

But it may not be for the reason most would think, instead of reflecting most on his team's dominant victories, it was how the Sapphires responded in the two moments they were challenged which Garlepp was most proud of.

Those moments came when their gold medal hopes were on the line. In the first quarter of their semi-final against China, where they only held a slender two-point advantage after the first 10 minutes followed by overcoming an early 9-2 deficit to New Zealand in the gold medal game.

Australia showed why they are the clear champions in both instances, responding with a 29-12 second period in the semis and finishing the opening quarter with a 20-4 run againt their trans-Tasman rivals. Those rampant swings of momentum took the game away from their opponents, leading to them being crowned the champions of Asia once again.

"We were definitely challenged and I feel responding swiftly and in dominant fashion accurately sums up how they responded," Garlepp told basketball.com.au.

"As a coach this was probably the most exciting part of the week. I think in terms of the 'why' behind those responses, I would put it down to that there was a collective understanding within the team about how to compete the right way.

"While the 12 players are very young, they have been a part of some strong state programs and some big domestic matches and I get the sense they are able to be pushed and make adjustments in the heat of the moment which is very promising.

"I feel really lucky to coach the group. Our margins of victory were quite historic for this tournament and it speaks to the potential that this age group has within our ranks. Australian basketball should be encouraged about the types of players it has coming through."

Although Australia ran through the tournament using their depth as their biggest advantage, they were led by the likes of Madison Ryan - who won a silver with the Gems at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup earlier this year - and Mackay product Isabel Smith with both talents named in the tournament's All-Star Five.

And Garlepp believes every Sapphire is only scratching the surface of what they could do in basketball. Asked what is the most special thing about the group, he had one word to add.

"Potential," he said.

"I do feel that despite a strong week, the group has a lot of indicators that suggest if they continue to strive for steady growth, they do have the right attitudes and raw abilities to have a lot of fun in the game.

"I feel strongly about this with respect to not just this group of 12 but also the age group, several players who weren’t here also displayed similar traits at camp. I feel like if they can keep striving, down the road our game will be in a fantastic spot."

The Sapphires were the last Australian team to compete at their respective Asia Cup tournament, and following the Boomers and Opals victories as well as the Crocs under-16 boys, Garlepp said there was some pressure to compete a fairytale run for national teams on the international stage this year.

"(Winning) is a relief, if I am being honest," he said.

"We have had a dominant international season in the Asia region and with us being the final cab off the rank, the feeling of wanting to continue the streak was not lost on me.

"Now that we have been able to perform so strongly and finish off Basketball Australia's Asia Cup run the right way, I do feel proud to have been a part of it, that is for sure."

This Sapphires group will look to build on their gold medal win as they prepare for the FIBA Under-17 Women's World Cup in the Czech Republic in July, 2026.