Indonesia advance despite loss to Mongolia as Chinese Taipei, Iran claim wins to top respective groups

JAKARTA (Asian Games 2018) – The final day of Group Stage play in the Men’s Basketball tournament of the Asian Games 2018 resulted in wins for Iran, Chinese Taipei, and Indonesia, completing the cast for the Quarterfinals.

Iran and Syria made their Men’s Basketball Asian Games 2018 debut as the only two teams in Group B with Iran claiming the win 68-55. Iran controlled the tempo for most of the game and held Syria to only 1-18 shooting from long range on their way to the win. Both teams qualify for the Quarterfinals as the only two teams of the group. Sajjad Mashayekhi led in scoring for Iran with 19 points.

Chinese Taipei were locked in a close game against Qatar with less than three minutes left in the game before breaking away to win 83-70. Two straight baskets from Liu Cheng in the last two minutes expanded the lead out of Qatar’s reach. Cheng had 19 points adding to Chen Ying Chun’s stellar game of 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Indonesia lost their game against Mongolia 74-69 but were able to qualify for the Quarterfinals via holding the three-way tiebreaker. Mongolia needed to win the game by at least 7 points to qualify and were looking in good shape with a 55-37 lead nearing the end of the 3^rd quarter.

Indonesia ferociously stormed back to set up Valentino Wuwungan as the hero of the game. The burly forward knocked down four free throws and grabbed 4 rebounds in the final minute of the game to help his team secure the outcome they needed to advance to the next round. Wuwungan had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the whole game, just enough to counter another big game from Mongolia’s star Sanchir Tungalag who had 28 points and 10 rebounds.

The Quarterfinals will commence on August 27 with Korea vs Philippines, Iran vs Japan, Chinese Taipei vs Syria, and China vs Indonesia.

FIBA