Basket Ball

China took revenge for last year’s FIBA Asian Championship final defeat by beating Iran 86-64 in the Stankovic Continental Cup on Thursday night as both teams continued their preparations for the FIBA World Championship.China were favourites to win the 2009 Asian Championship in Tianjin last year but Iran confirmed their status as a rising power with a 70-52 victory.
However, they could not repeat that in Luizhou as Wang Shipeng scored 22 points to lead China to victory.
Yi Jianlian added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts.
The game was all but over as a contest early on as China pulled out a 43-23 margin in the second quarter.
Iran are missing big center Hamed Haddadi who has remained in the United States this summer.
Australia moved to 2-0 after Wednesday’s defeat of China by beating Slovenia 77-63.
The Boomers led the match throughout as Patrick Mills and Adam Gibson scored 15 points each. Brad Newley added 14 and Joe Ingles 12.
“We played a very good team and I was happy with the way we guarded them as a group,” Australia coach Brett Brown said. “They have an excellent scoring team, and some dynamic perimeter shooters including NBA guard Goran Dragic and an NBA centre in Primoz Brezec. To hold Slovenia to 64 points for the game and 12 in the last quarter was a terrific effort. This area must not waiver.”
For Slovenia Sani Becirovic led the way with 15 points, Jaka Klobucar added 13 and Uros Slokar had 10.
However, Australia did suffer an injury scare with big man Matt Nielsen hurting his thigh in the third quarter. He did not return to the game.