MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Iran has clinched Asia’s closing qualifying spot for the basketball World Cup regardless of shedding its closing playoff sport 86-74 to China on Sunday.
Going into the ultimate spherical of playoff matches, Iran and Kazakhstan have been the final groups left with hopes of qualifying for the World Cup from Group F, which contained already-qualified Australia, China and Japan.
To clinch the fourth and closing qualifying spot, Iran solely wanted to match Kazakhstan’s end in its closing sport in opposition to Australia. Kazakhstan misplaced 98-53 at Melbourne additionally Sunday, that means Iran’s fourth-quarter fade-out in opposition to China in Hong Kong didn’t finish its World Cup marketing campaign.
Regardless of one spherical of qualifying matches remaining in Asia’s different playoff group to be performed on Monday — New Zealand, Lebanon, Jordan and Philippines had already secured the highest 4 qualifying locations within the six-team Group E.
Last playoff matches in Africa, Europe and the Americas are additionally being performed on Sunday and Monday to finish the 32-team lineup for the World Cup to be collectively hosted by Japan, Philippines and Indonesia from Aug. 25.
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