JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Sina Vahedi couldn't be any prouder after Iran pulled off a comeback of epic proportions to disappoint Chinese Taipei and bring themselves to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Semi-Finals, Wednesday night.
Team Melli appeared to be on the losing end of a massive upset when their East Asian counterparts led by as many as 21 points, but the crew showed steely resolve in the second half and went on to complete the rally.
It is, by far, the biggest comeback by any team in this year's competition.
"That was a big comeback, you know," he reflected after their 78-75 win at the King Abdullah Sports Hall. "We were down like 20 points in the first half. I'm proud of everybody - coaches, players. We deserved that."
Vahedi himself was crucial in the thrilling victory after punching in 21 points, and he himself was composure personified as the crafty playmaker overcame an early adversity to be of help for the three-time champions.
The FIBA WASL star accumulated three personal fouls exactly seven minutes into the match, leaving the Iranians' brain thrust with no choice but to keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the first half.
"Man, I don't know what to say about that because I'm so mad about it. I was on the bench for the whole first half," recalled the 24-year-old, who had already accumulated his average fouls per game in that one stretch.
But being the PG that he is, Vahedi instead channeled all his frustrations into plotting what he could do on the floor once his number gets called again, thus the sudden switch in Iran's game after the halftime intermission.
He went on to pour 19 points in the second half, serving as the squad's stabilizing presence - as always - most especially in the dying seconds when he conspired with Mohammad Amini for the finishing blows.
After Benson Lin gave Chinese Taipei a two-point lead, Vahedi tied things up with a perfect trip to the foul line, before the talented wing took charge as the tandem joined hands for the 6-1 spurt to end the game.
Soon, the whole squad would erupt in jubilation while leaving a lot in awe.
"I was patient on the bench, thinking about defense, offense, everything. And in the second half, we won the game. I'm so happy about that," expressed Vahedi, who never incurred a foul since coming back.
Making it all the more memorable is the fact that this batch has brought Iran to their first Semi-Finals in almost a decade, or since the 2017 edition in Lebanon where they eventually settled for silver behind Australia.
Coincidentally, Team Melli and the Boomers are bound for a collision course in this year's Semi-Finals, with the former, of course, hoping to exact revenge by spoiling the latter's 'three-peat' aspirations.
Vahedi, though, chose to stay in the moment and bask in their accomplishment.
"I'm so proud of everybody. I'm just so happy about that," he said, smiling. "I feel amazing."
FIBA