Iran routs Italy in International Basketball Challenge
Iranian men's national basketball team has earned a well-deserved victory in the preliminary round of the 2015 International Basketball Challenge in China, overwhelming the Italian side.
On Tuesday, the Italians started the match at the Suzhou Sports Center in the southeastern Chinese city of Suzhou in energetic fashion and outscored the Persians 21-18 in the first quarter.
The Iranian sportsmen, however, managed to establish themselves as the game progressed and won the second quarter 19-14.
The Iranians maintained their lead in the third quarter, and edged out the Italian basketball players with 24 points to 20.
In the final quarter, both teams played to a 20-20 draw, and Iran sealed an 81-75 victory over Italy at last.
The Iranian team will return to action on Wednesday evening as it takes aim at Slovakia in its third preliminary round showdown.
The 2015 International Basketball Challenge opened in Suzhou, China, on July 27, and will run until August 1.
The tournament is a warm-up exercise for Iran before the FIBA Asia Championship for Men scheduled to be held between September 23 and October 3 in Wuhan, China.
The winner of the forthcoming sporting event qualifies for the basketball tournament on the 2016 Summer Olympics, while the silver and bronze medalists will go under the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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