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ICE cool free throw makes by rookie Tyrese Proctor with 8.7 seconds left in the Asia Cup Final assured Australia retained its crown and the Gold Medal with a 75-73 escape from Lebanon after only minutes earlier leading by as many as 15 points and seemingly en route to a comfortable victory.

Lebanese sharpshooter and eventual tournament MVP Wael Arakji had other ideas though and turned what looked a regulation Boomers win into a chaotic few minutes that had fans in Jakarta roaring for the underdogs.

The change in the complexion of the game was gobsmacking, Australia in almost total control.

Establishing its superiority early through exceptional team defence and audacious plays from eventual All Star Five selections Thon Maker and captain Mitch McCarron, Australia was ahead 22-10 after one quarter.

Lebanon barely scraped into double figures while Maker was doing highlight reel work such as dribbling the ball behind his back in the open court, passing it forward, then catching it back for a "thonderous" jam.

McCarron was on his way to packing the stat sheet with a typical 12-point, 4-rebound, 5-assist, 4-steal night at the office, throwing a behind-the-back pass amid congestion as the Boomers thoroughly enjoyed defending the Asia Cup won at the 2017 tournament.

The buffer was still at 10 for halftime, then built again during a third quarter which saw Sergio El Darwich cop an unsportsmanlike foul after coat-hangering Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

Alex Ducas' 3-pointer had Australia at 55-41 clear, the Boomers taking a 57-43 edge into the last break.

A minute into the final term, Sam McDaniel scored for 59-45 and a half-minute later, Rhys Vague's three made it 62-47. Maker blocked a shot, then broke out on the break, and at 7:13 his dunk had the lead back to 64-49.

Proctor's three cancelled Arakji's triple but Lebanon was starting to play with renewed vigour.

Swaka Lo Buluk's three at 3:05 meant the Boomers' buffer was still cushy at 71-58.

The Final was inside its last three minutes when El Darwich stroked a three at 2:50 for 61-71. After Maker made a free throw, the Boomers took time out at 2:02, ahead 72-61.

And then it happened. Ali Haidar (23 points at 59 per cent, 9 boards) scored to cut the deficit into single digits. An Aussie turnover led to a strong drive by Elie Chamoun who added a bonus free throw and in the blink of an eye, Lebanon was at 66-72.

The Aussies were unravelling to an extent and when Will McDowell-White fouled Arakji on a 3-point bomb, the clock was showing 50.9 seconds.

Arakji scored two of his freebies for 68-72 and when he drove for 70-72, there were still 11.2 seconds left and the fans in a frenzy.

In the words of Ron Burgundy: "Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast."

Proctor was fouled with 8.7 seconds remaining, the game very much in the balance when the former Sutherland Sharks junior strolled to the free throw line.

The 18-year-old coolly slotted both pressure freebies to give the Boomers breathing room at 74-70.

But this still was not over. Arakji nailed a monster 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds left and Lebanon was at 73-74, its star shooter with 28 points including 15 in the last quarter.

Fouled with 3.9 left, Vague stuck his first free throw for 75-73, missing his second. Off the rebound, Haidar hurled a prayer which missed and Mike Kelly had coached a successful Asia Cup defence.

ASIA CUP FINAL: AUSTRALIA BOOMERS 75 (Maker 14, McCarron 12, Proctor 10; Maker 8 rebs; McDowell-White 6 assts) d LEBANON 73 (Arakji 28, Haidar 23, El darwich 7; Haidar 9 rebs; Arakji 5 assts). BRONZE MEDAL PLAYOFF: NEW ZEALAND TALL BLACKS 83 (Smith-Milner 25, Fahrensohn 19, Timmins 12; Hunt 10 rebs; Cameron, Britt 7 assts) d JORDAN 75 (Abbaas, Hawwas 19, Abbas 15, Ibrahim 12; Abbas 9 rebs; Ibrahim 8 assts).

ASIA CUP MVP: Wael Arakji (Lebanon)

ASIA CUP ALL STAR FIVE: Tohi Smith-Milner (New Zealand), Thon Maker (Australia), Wael Arakji (Lebanon), Mitch McCarron (Australia), Zhou Qi (China).

ALL pictures courtesy of FIBA.com