AS SALT (Jordan) - Iran and Korea will be duking it out for the no. 1 seed of Group B after acing their respective assignments to keep their records without any blemish in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024, Tuesday at the Arena Complex.
The young Team Melli found their bearings late in the third quarter and went on to roll past a hard-fighting India, 70-53, before the defending champions followed suit by way of an 86-36 decimation of Kuwait as they both improved to 2-0.
Iran actually trailed by six after the opening period but overhauled as much in the ensuing frame, although it was not until the aforementioned chapter where they would establish a comfortable lead on their way to scoring the rout.
From a narrow 45-44 lead, Amirmahyar Keramati converted a bucket with three minutes to go and that sparked a 9-0 run to end the third with a 54-44 lead.
It was all Iran from there as they held India to only 9 points in the final frame to score back-to-back routs, the first of which was a 90-53 win over Kuwait on Monday.
Mohammad Mahdi Heydari led Iran with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Keramati backed him up with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists for an efficiency of 19.
Big man Mohammad Ishan, on the other hand, led India with 10 points and 9 rebounds in the gallant stand from the SABA Qualifiers winners.
Meanwhile, Jang Hyeokjun flirted with a double-double with 22 points and 9 rebounds for Korea, who turned it up in the middle quarters en route to the W.
From an eight-point lead after the opening frame, the repeat-seeking team from East Asia would pour 52 big points in the second and third chapters while limiting their foes to only 20 to establish a commanding 71-32 lead entering the fourth.
Lee Jewon made 14 points. Gu Seungchae had 12 points while Daniel Edi chimed in 11 points and 7 rebounds in the win that saw Korea shoot 52.3-percent from the field.
Now, Korea will surely look to clinch the top seed of the group when they face Iran on Wednesday, September 4, at 16:30 local time in a rematch of the 2022 Quarter-Final. Winner will be securing one of the four outright tickets to the Quarter-Finals.
FIBA