CHANGSHA-HUNAN (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - After losing their respective Semi-Finals on Friday, Japan and Iran will do battle in Saturday's Third-Place at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

Japan finished outside of the top eight two years ago in Manila and weren't expected to make it to this stage of the competition after some poor results in their tune-up games. However, head coach Kenji Hasegawa's team has defied the odds to become the Cinderella story of the tournament. Iran, on the other hand, were the odds-on favorites coming into Changsha-Hunan, but two key losses to the Philippines and China have derailed their hopes of defending their crown. These two teams played each other on the opening day of the championship, with Iran easily winning, 86-48. With Japan full of energy and confidence though, the result may be different this time around.

Japan's Outlook: Japan started the tournament slowly but they have picked up momentum thanks to the brilliant play by the dynamic duo of Joji Takeuchi and Makoto Hiejima. The pair have so far combined to average 32.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting better than 51 percent. If they can remain highly productive against the Iranian juggernaut, Japan have a chance to finish on the third step of the podium. Of course, it goes without saying that they will need plenty of help from the rest of the team, with Yuta Tabuse, Takatoshi Furukawa, and Atsuya Ota among the foremost contributors.

Iran's Outlook: It seems Iran's star has slowly faded in these games, with their losses to the Philippines and China highlighting the notion that this previously indomitable team may now be at the end of a golden age. The fab five of Hamed Haddadi, Oshin Sahakian, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Hamed Afagh, and Mahdi Kamrani have not been able to impose their will as strongly as they once could and the supporting cast led by Mohammad Hassanzadeh and Mohammad Jamshidi has been shaky against the strongest of opposition. Team Melli will still be heavily favored in this re-match with Japan, but their failing to reach the Final perhaps indicates that some changing of the guard is now needed.

Key Match-Up: Big men Hamed Haddadi and Joji Takeuchi play so differently from each other, but their match-up will be critical in this encounter. Don't be shocked if Haddadi barrels his way into the paint to exploit his edge in size. On the other end, Takeuchi will be expected to stretch the defense with his outside shooting and high post play. More pressure will be on Haddadi, though, as Iran have never ended their tournament on a losing note since the 2005 FIBA Asia Championship. Incidentally enough, Japan were the ones who dealt them that defeat.

FIBA