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BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- We tip-off with hoops and a spot in the finals of the FIBA Asia championships was on the line as China faced Iran in Changsha, Hunan province. The hosts were looking to exact revenge on the Middle Easterners who beat China in the 2009 final.
China come out firing from distance -- first Dingyan Yuhang.
Then Li Gen adds another.
Before Zhai Xiaochuan contributes another triple to put China up five.
Things would start to get chippy, as Yi Jianlian gives a cheapshot to Hamed Haddadi.
Iran starts to fight back early in the second quarter. Nikkhah Bahrami getting the lay-in
But Zhou Qi is able to convert the lob to restore a seven-point edge for his side.
Zhou Peng hits the three and draws a foul to build a double-digit lead for China. 12 points for Zhou on the night.
China would try and extend the lead in the third as Ding gets the hoop and the harm on the fast break.
More fastbreaking from China as he is able to get the throwdown to extend the lead. Yi. finishes with a team-high 13 points as he and his teammates are in complete control.
But Iran wold try and trim the deficit, Haddadi getting the nice drop step to finish at the rim, but his team trails by a dozen.
Bahrami then gets into the lane and gets the floater to drop and it is a six point margin.
But Yi is able to convert on the other end and make it an eight-point game.
Guo Ailun then cuts finishes in transition to give China a 12-point cushion late in the period.
Iran score only five points in the last six minutes -- as Haddadi and his team cannot overturn the deficit. 70-57 is the final. As China exact revenge over the Iranians for the 2009 defeat and advance to the final.
"Our performance on the defensive end was better than our offense. That was because of our hard work this summer. Scoring is not our advantage against Iran, but with a young team, our tenacity helped on the defensive end. I'd been waiting for this match for six years. The victory is different from our previous wins," Yi said. "I think it's one of the best matches we've played in the recent years. It means a lot this team. The players show they're united. We hope the teamwork can last longer. It will set up a better platform for our young players," China coach Gong Luming said.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
