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Japan basketball team downs Iran in Asia U-18 championship

This photo shows a view of the Group A match of the 2016 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship between the national Japanese junior basketball team (players in white) and Iran at Azadi Sports Complex, western Iran, July 24, 2016.

Iran’s national junior basketball team has fallen victim to Japan in its third match of the preliminary round the 2016 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.

On Sunday, the Iranian side suffered a 77-81 loss to East Asians in a Group B match played at Azadi Sports Complex, western Tehran.

The hosts started in energetic fashion and took an early lead. The Japanese junior basketball players, however, managed to establish the lead as the time passed and could clinch a narrow 26-25 first quarter win.

The Iranian basketball players came from behind in the second quarter, and scored points to pull out a 20-18 victory. 

The Japanese outfit retook dominance in the third quarter, and accumulated points to clinch it by 13 points to 9.

In the final quarter, the young Iranian sportsmen rebounded from their losses and sought to turn the tide and grab the lead. But the hosts ultimately fell just short, and the Japanese come away with a 24-23 victory.

Iran’s national junior basketball team is scheduled to play against South Korea on Tuesday.

The 2016 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship, which marks the 24th edition of the continental sports event, started in the Iranian capital on July 22 and will run through July 31.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is drawn in Group B of the preliminary round of the sports event, and has joined Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and South Korea.

Group A consists of China, Chinese Taipei, India, Iraq, the Philippines and Thailand.

The teams placed first, second, third and fourth in each group will qualify directly for the quarterfinal round.


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