Iran Falls Short against Japan in FIBA World Cup Qualifier
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Japan basketball team defeated Iran 97-89 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers on Thursday.
In the match held at the Azadi Hall in Tehran, Iran, the Japanese team notch its seventh Asian Qualifiers victory.
The win pushed Japan within a whisker of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualification.
Makoto Hiejima shone brightest for Japan with 24 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 9-of-13 field goal shooting, while Nick Fazekas added 26 points and 8 boards. Veteran big man Joji Takeuchi also stepped up, hitting a couple of triples en route to 17 points.
On the other end, the home team was paced by Mohammad Jamshidi's 33 points, but he had little support as Sajjad Mashayekhi was the only other Iranian player who broke into double-figures with 13 points.
Japan will next face Qatar in Doha on 24 February, while Iran will end its Asian Qualifiers campaign against Australia on the same date.
