China end Iran's Asia Championship title defence to reach final

China defeated Iran to move a win away from their 16th Asia Championship title ©FIBA

Hosts China ended Iran’s defence of their International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Championship title with an excellent performance in Changsha to reach the final and move a step closer to sealing Rio 2016 Olympic qualification.

Having recorded seven straight victories, the Chinese team entered the match in high spirits as the 15-time champions looked to wrestle back control of the tournament from Iran, who had won three of the last four editions.

Backed by a large home crowd, China raced into a 21-12 lead by the close of the opening quarter and they were a further point in front after a much closer second period of the match to boast a 39-29 half-time lead over their rivals.

With China having been faultless throughout the Championship, the Iranian team needed to make the most of their opportunities but instead they endured a miserable run of shooting from three-point range, where they scored only two of 16 attempts.

It made the task of getting back into the match too difficult a feat with their profligacy and a poor opening period proving crucial at the end of the tie as the Chinese team ran out 70-57 winners to keep their pursuit of a 16th title very much on track.

The only unbeaten side in the tournament are due to face the Philippines in the final after they delivered an accomplished performance to see off the threat of Japan in their semi-final clash.

Japan had earned a one point lead by the end of the opening quarter but saw their advantage cancelled out in the second period of the match to see the scores locked at 39-all at the interval.

The Philippines overcame Japan with after dominating the final quarter of their semi-final — The Philippines overcame Japan after dominating the final quarter of their semi-final ©Getty Images

The match would remain deadlocked after the two teams both scored 15 points each in the third quarter, but the Philippines captain Donaldo Hontiveros then showed his quality in the dying stages to prove to be the difference between the sides.

Having already secure three three-pointers during the match he doubled that tally in the final quarter to help his team move clear to seal an 81-70 triumph, in addition to sealing a tournament high for the number of three-pointers in a single game.

Hontiveros will have to be in similarly good form in the final if the 2013 runners-up are to seal their first Asia Championship title and earn the Rio 2016 qualification place ahead of China.