The Iranian men’s national junior team has conquered the summit of Asian basketball after defeating Japan in the final of the 2016 FIBA Asia U18 Championship.
The Iranian team, which had fallen to Japan in the group stage of the games, scored a 71-65 victory over their opponents this time around at Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex on Sunday, claiming the crown for a third time.
The Iranian outfit reached the final after beating South Korea, to whom they had also lost in the group stage, 87-65 on Saturday.
Iran, Japan and South Korea all secured a place in the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship, due to be held in Egypt.
Iran’s march to the trophy comes as it had finished fourth in Group B of the games in Tehran.
Iran had previously secured the crown in 2004 and 2008 (in Tehran). The Iranian basketballers also finished runners-up in 2002 and 2014.
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 was 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 qualified for the quarterfinals.