Iran basketball team sinks Palestine in FIBA Asia Championship

Iran’s junior basketball players have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China following a well-deserved and emphatic victory over Palestine.

On Tuesday, the Palestinian squad started the match at the Changsha Social Work College’s gymnasium in the south-central Chinese city of Changsha in a strong fashion before the Iranians sprang into action and brought the game under control to claim the first quarter 17-14.

Both teams were relatively neck and neck for half of the second quarter, and went on a point-by-point basis. The Iranian sportsmen, however, managed to assert their dominance and cruised to a 26-6 win.

The Iranian basketball players maintained their lead in the third quarter, and surged ahead to edge past the Palestinian outfit 28-11.

The Persians sustained the momentum in the final quarter, and finally notched up a 23-17 victory. The Iranian squad earned a 94-48 win over Palestine.

Asghar Kardoust Poustinsaraei was the leading scorer for Iran with 15 points, while Palestine’s top scorer Sani Sakakini collected 13 points.

The Iranian team will return to action on Wednesday as it takes aim at South Korea in a quarterfinal showdown.

The 2015 FIBA Asia Championship opened in Changsha, China, on September 23, and will wrap up on October 3.

The winner of the tournament will qualify for the basketball tournament on the 2016 Summer Olympics, while the next three best teams will participate at the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir