The men's basketball Asian Cup semifinals are set! China will face New Zealand, while Australia takes on Iran, along with the semifinal schedule.

On August 15, Beijing time, all quarterfinal matches of the men's basketball Asian Cup have concluded. In the final game, the New Zealand team defeated Lebanon 90-86, securing the last spot in the semifinals. Therefore, the four teams that made it to the semifinals are Australia, New Zealand, China, and Iran, all of which are strong teams with high competitive value. The upcoming semifinal battles are sure to be intense!

New Zealand faced Lebanon. New Zealand is a strong team, second only to Australia. In this tournament, they won all three group stage matches to advance to the quarterfinals, where they faced Lebanon, who finished third in their group. Lebanon made a shocking upset by eliminating Japan, the second-ranked team, in the playoffs, leading to a fierce competition for the last semifinal spot!

As the game began, New Zealand struggled to find their rhythm after a long break, resulting in poor shooting and a lot of missed shots. Lebanon seized the opportunity and quickly built a 32-12 lead, finishing the first quarter with a 20-point advantage. As the game progressed, New Zealand gradually found their pace, displaying high offensive efficiency and launching a furious comeback, steadily closing the score gap. By the fourth quarter, New Zealand showcased remarkable stamina, executing consecutive dunks, and eventually overtook the score with a late surge, completing an incredible comeback. This match saw New Zealand somewhat undeservedly win, benefiting significantly from free throw advantages, which led to controversies as the referees appeared biased towards New Zealand, leaving Lebanon heartbroken and eliminated!

Overall, the matchups in this semifinals are quite luxurious, featuring two strong teams from Oceania: Australia and New Zealand, with Australia being the defending champion. Coupled with the traditional Asian powerhouses, China and Iran, the semifinal matchups are now confirmed: Asia faces Oceania, with China going up against New Zealand and Australia taking on Iran. The specific match times have also been set, with the China vs. New Zealand match scheduled for the 16th at 7 PM, and the Australia vs. Iran match at midnight on the 17th!

Written by/ Sports Novel