Junior Tall Blacks Beat Iran, Heading To Semis

The Junior Tall Blacks are through to the semi-final round of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, following an impressive 87-61 victory over Iran overnight.

This win locks New Zealand in for a top-4 finish at this tournament, which in turn secures them a berth at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup.

After holding a slim 17-15 lead after the first quarter, the JTBs broke the game open to start the second; going on a 10-0 run thanks to scores from five different players. After Tama Isaac hit back-to-back triples and Carter Hopoi made a driving layup, the Kiwis were up 35-22 and never looked back – outscoring Iran 48-26 across the second and third quarters.

The duo of Hopoi (28 points, 5 rebounds) and Isaac (24 points, 7 assists) were dominant throughout, with Ezrah Eagle adding 8 points, Jonty Bond 7 and Adam Barton 5 points and 5 rebounds. As a team, the Kiwis put on their best offensive showing of the tournament; hitting 47.7% of their shots on 31 made field goals – with 20 of those shots assisted – and sinking 8-25 from downtown at a 32% clip.

For Iran, Salar Taheri scored 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Mohammad Heydari added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Iran was held to just 21 made field goals and 34.4% accuracy, including a paltry 2-19 from beyond the arc; the Kiwis holding their opponents to just 4-16 shooting in the game-changing second quarter. New Zealand also forced Iran into 16 turnovers, which it turned directly into 16 points.

Next up for New Zealand is a semi-final clash with China at 1.30am NZT, Monday 9 September. If New Zealand can win this game, they will proceed to the grand final and will be assured of finishing with at least Silver – equalling their best-ever effort (2019) at this FIBA U18 Asia Cup competition.

 

Stats:

New Zealand 87 – Hopoi 28 PTS & 5 REB | Isaac 24 PTS & 7 AST | Eagle 8 PTS | Bond 7 PTS | Barton 5 PTS & 5 REB | Treacher 4 PTS & 6 REB | Blight 4 PTS | Hunt 3 PTS | Silberstein 2 PTS & 6 AST | Christof 2 PTS

Iran 61 – Taheri 19 PTS & 9 REB | Heydari 11 PTS & 5 REB

Box Scorehttps://bbnz.link/U18AC_NZLvIRI

Quarter Scores: 17-15, 41-28, 65-41, 87-61

 

FIBA U18 Men’s Asia Cup – New Zealand Schedule and Results

NZL v Jordan – Tue 3 Sep (WON 71-62)

NZL v Indonesia – Wed 4 Sep (WON 89-43)

NZL v Philippines – Thu 5 Sep (WON 75-58)

NZL v Iran, quarter-finals – Sat 7 Sep (WON 87-61)

NZL v China, semi-finals – 1.30am NZT, Mon 9 Sep

 

NZ Men’s U18 Squad at U18 Men’s Asia Cup

Adam Barton, Nelson Basketball Association

Will Blight, Nelson Basketball Association

Jonty Bond, Nelson Basketball Association

Chris Christof, Otago Basketball

Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay

Mahnaya Heke, Waikato Basketball

Julius Halaifonua, NBA Global Academy

Carter Hopoi, Tauranga Basketball Association

Ryan Hunt, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball

Tama Isaac, Canterbury Basketball

Dov Silberstein, Basketball Manawatu

Kahu Treacher, Eastern Arizona College (US)