News / Sports

Iran basketball team progresses to semifinals of 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge

Saturday, 17 September 2016 1:58 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 17 September 2016 1:58 PM ]

The Iranian men’s national basketball team (file photo)

The Iranian men’s national basketball team has earned a spot in the semi-final round of the 2016 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) Asia Challenge, clinching an impressive win over the Indian outfit.

On Friday, the Persians ruled out the South Asians 77-47 in a quarterfinal fixture staged at Azadi Basketball Hall in the west of the Iranian capital city of Tehran to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

The Indian squad opened the game in a defensive fashion, and made it rather impossible for Iran’s captain Hamed Haddadi to rack up points. Other Iranian basketball players, however, managed to outscore the Indians 18-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The Iranians maintained their lead into the second quarter, and claimed it by 20 points to 17.

The hosts continued with their surge in the third quarter, and applied diverse attacks and blocks to widen the gap and take the quarter 26-2.

The Iranians renounced dominance after the break, and the Indian team sealed the fourth quarter 14-13.

Iran is scheduled to take on Jordan in a semifinal match on Saturday.

The 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge, which marks the 6th edition of the international basketball tournament, started in the Iranian capital on September 9 and will end on September 18.

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

www.presstv.co.uk