JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – If this feels like March Madness to Arsalan Kazemi, that’s because Iran are dancing just like the NCAA underdogs he once watched in college.
And on Day 4 at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, the music kept playing.
Iran took down powerhouse Japan 78-70, a victory built not on one star performance, but on a collective effort from a young and fearless group. With the win, Iran remain in control of their own destiny. If they beat Syria next, they march straight into the Quarter-Finals.
"So I played college and you know in March they go dancing. This is like that. We are the underdogs, and we’re going to keep on dancing till we get stopped," said Kazemi, the captain whose experience continues to guide the team. "Nobody expects us to do anything, and we continue to play hard. It was a hard-fought game, but it means nothing unless we stay focused. Next up is Syria."
That focus is built into the culture head coach Sotirios Alex Manolopoulos is trying to create. For him, the win over Japan wasn’t about who scored the most points. It was about everyone playing their role.
"We never really want to talk about specific players," he explained. "Every game, some players may score more, but everyone understands their role. We play as a team on offense and defense."
That doesn’t mean there weren’t breakout moments. Young talents like Mohammad Amini and Sina Vahedi made their presence felt, proving Kazemi right when he said any of Iran’s rising stars can step up.
"Again, there are some young guys that probably nobody heard of. Any of them they can come and drop 30 points any night," Kazemi said. "So that's what we need. We need like two, three of them to step up big every game and I think we're gonna be fine."
It was the kind of win that sends a clear message—this Iran side may be young, but they’re not intimidated by reputations or rankings. They believe that as long as they go all-in on their team-first mindset, anything can happen.
"Japan have a great team," said 21-year-old Mahdi Jafari. "But we played like a team and won the game."
And now, if Team Melli beat Syria to book a direct ticket to the Quarter-Finals, the dance floor might just get a little more crowded.
FIBA