IRI/PHI - FIBA Asia Cup to help Iran and Philippines tune up for Spain 2014

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Cup) - Iran and the Philippines will be looking to hit the ground running at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, a 24-team tournament that tips off in 78 days in Granada, Seville, Bilbao and Gran Canaria.

As part of their preparations, the two sides will compete in the 5th FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China, from 11-19 July.

The Asia Cup, previously known as the FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup, is a qualifying event for next year's FIBA Asia Championship and has 10 teams.

The tournament starts with two pools of five sides.

Iran will take on China, India, Indonesia and Japan in Group A, and the Philippines will square off against Chinese Taipei, Jordan, Singapore and Uzbekistan in Group B.

The top four from each group will progress to the Quarter-Final Play-offs.

The side that goes on to capture the title will qualify for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

In 2010, Iran, Lebanon and China competed at the tournament in Beirut before traveling to Turkey for the FIBA World Championship.

The Iranians won all seven of their games in Japan and clinched the title with China (5-2) ending up fifth and Lebanon (4-3) seventh.

Once in Turkey, however, China were the only side to advance from the Preliminary Round.

They finished 16th in the tournament, with Iran and Lebanon 19th and 20th, respectively.

Iran beat the Philippines in last year's FIBA Asia Championship Final in Manila.

At Spain 2014, which gets underway 30 August, the Iranians will compete in Group A against Spain, France, Serbia, Brazil and Egypt, and the Filipinos in Group B against Greece, Argentina, Croatia, Senegal and Puerto Rico.

For more information and all the latest news about the 5th FIBA Asia Cup, go to fibaasia.net.

FIBA