Iran basketball team vice champion in 2017 FIBA Asia Cup

The Iranian men’s national basketball team has placed second at the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball (FIBA) Asia Cup in Lebanon, and clinched the vice champion title.

On Sunday evening, the Iranian outfit, which had Hamed Haddadi, Arsalan Kazemi, Behnam Yakhchali, Mohammad Jamshidi and Sajjad Yakhchali in its line-up, lost to Australia 56-79 in the final match of the continental tournament at Nouhad Nawfal Stadium in Zouk Mosbeh town, located 12 kilometers north of the Lebanese capital city of Beirut.

Australia started the game as it meant to go on, jumping out to a 12-2 lead in the first five minutes of the opening quarter. Australia kept pressure up then and claimed the quarter 18-14.

Australia had a commanding 25-12 lead at the end of the second quarter.

Iran retook the lead in the third period, and finished it 17-13.

Despite Iran’s efforts to crown the tournament, it was Australia which pulled out a 23-13 win in the final quarter, and became the first-ever FIBA Asia Cup champion.

Brad Newley had his best game of the tournament to lead Australia, finishing with 18 points. Daniel Kickert had 14 points, whilst Mitch Creek scored 12.

Hamed Haddadi had 18 points to lead Iran, and was joined by Behnam Yakhchali with 10.

Haddadi was named the competition's MVP (Most Valuable Player), and was joined by his compatriot Mohammad Jamshidi as well as Shae Ili of New Zealand, South Korea's Oh Sekeun and Lebanese basketball player Fadi El Khatib.

South Korea finished in third place at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017, taking an 80-71 win over New Zealand.

The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, which was the 29th edition of the continental basketball championship in Asia, started in Lebanon on August 8 and concluded on August 20.

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