Nagoya, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : In Nagoya, Japan, on September 16, 2026, the men’s basketball tournament at the Asian Games saw China, Japan, South Korea, and Iran clinch their spots in the semifinals after successful quarterfinal matches.
China faced Saudi Arabia and emerged victorious with a score of 87-78. Despite missing three key players—Zhu Junlong, Zhao Jiayi, and Li Hongquan—due to injuries, China started strong, leading 48-39 at halftime. Saudi Arabia fought back fiercely in the second half, leveling the score at 62-62 by the end of the third quarter. However, China regained control in the final quarter, showcasing their resilience.
With just 2 minutes and 4 seconds remaining, Hu Jinqiu made two crucial free throws, extending China’s lead to 83-75. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Suwailem responded with a free throw and a layup, narrowing the gap to 83-78 with 1 minute and 29 seconds left on the clock. Yet, China maintained their composure under pressure, with Kui Yongxi and Liao scoring consecutively, sealing their victory at 87-78. Liao led the game with 30 points, supported by Yu Jiahao, who contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds. For Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Abdurrahman was the top scorer with 25 points.
Iran also secured a semifinal spot by narrowly defeating Bahrain 79-74. With just 10.4 seconds left, Iran was ahead by three points when their players missed three consecutive free throws, giving Bahrain a chance to turn the game around. During their final possession, guard Mustafa Rashid missed a three-pointer from the corner. Subsequently, he received a second technical foul for arguing with the referee, which dashed Bahrain’s hopes of a comeback.
In other quarterfinals, South Korea triumphed over Jordan with a dominant 114-80 victory, led by Lee Hyun-jung, who scored 28 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Veteran Choi Jun-yong added six points in a strong team effort. Meanwhile, host nation Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 85-78, with Kotetsu Kurokawa scoring 23 points. The semifinals are set to take place on Friday, featuring China against Japan and South Korea facing Iran.
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