Publish Date: 18 June 2016 - 20:42

TEHRAN, Jun. 18 (MNA) – Iran’s national basketball squad has defeated hosting China in the semifinals of Atlas Challenge 2016 in Beijing to secure a place in final match.

On Sunday, semifinals were played where Iran faced China only to defeat the hosts 80-66. Iran was winner in 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters and equaled in the 3rd 17-17. In a second match of the semifinals, Lithuania slashed New Zealand to play Iran in the final, which will be on Sunday.

Dirk Bauermann’s men have been draw in Group B along with a participant from the United States, Idaho Vandals, Lithuania and Macedonia, where they defeated Lithuania. Iran prepares for Rio 2016 Summer Olympics qualifiers, which will be held in Turin, July 4-9. In the first edition of the games in 2015, Iran came second to China’s Olympic squad.

 

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