JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Iran held off a furious late charge from New Zealand to secure a 79-73 win in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Third-Place Game on Sunday at King Abdullah Sports City, reclaiming a spot on the podium after missing out in 2022.
Veteran forward Arsalan Kazemi anchored the effort with 16 points, 15 rebounds and two timely triples, while Seyed Jafari shone brightest with a game-high 22 points, 5 assists and 5 three-pointers. Guard Sina Vahedi added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists as Team Melli finished with a 5-1 record and the bronze medals.
Kazemi’s steady presence was pivotal, not only dominating the glass but also delivering clutch free-throws in the dying seconds. Jafari sparked Iran’s offense with his patient playmaking, perimeter shooting and defensive hustle, while Vahedi repeatedly broke down the Tall Blacks’ defense with fearless drives. For New Zealand, Flynn Cameron fought to the end with 18 points and relentless rim attacks, while Mojave King contributed 13 points and 4 rebounds.
Iran came out sharp, using Kazemi’s veteran poise and Vahedi’s attacking flair to build a 28-20 lead after the first quarter. Even with Mohammad Amini unable to see action, Team Melli looked energized as Mobin Sheikhi capped the frame with a banked triple at the buzzer.
“We are like a family. We built chemistry and refused to lose,” Sheikhi said. “I’m proud of my teammates and brothers. Before the tournament began, our team captain said we were the underdogs, so I’m proud we finishined third-place. This win is for our team and for our country.”
The lead swelled to 47-33 at halftime behind Jafari’s hot shooting, as Iran answered every New Zealand push with composed scoring bursts. By the third quarter, back-to-back triples from Matin Aghajanpour and Kazemi gave Iran a 59-42 cushion, though the Tall Blacks clawed back with Cameron and Jordan Ngatai connecting from deep to trim the gap to 66-54 entering the final period.
The fourth quarter nearly unraveled for Iran as empty possessions left them stuck on 76 points for several minutes. Cameron slashed the lead to just 76-73 with under 40 seconds remaining, igniting hopes of a Tall Blacks comeback. But a costly unsportsmanlike foul on Ngatai gave Jafari a crucial trip to the line, and Kazemi calmly iced the game with two free-throws in the final six seconds.
“Credit to Iran. They came out and played an amazing game,” said New Zealand’s Tohi Smith-Milner. “We did show a lot of grit in the second half, especially for such a young team. I’m still so proud of this group. I have mixed emotions right now… just a little bit disappointed.”
For Iran, the result marked a proud return to the FIBA Asia Cup podium, cementing their status among the region’s perennial powers. After falling to defending champions Australia in the Semi-Finals, Team Melli responded with resilience to finish third overall.
New Zealand, meanwhile, leave Jeddah with a 4-2 record and a fourth-place finish. The Tall Blacks impressed with their Group D sweep and Quarter-Finals triumph, but came up short against Asia’s traditional heavyweights in back-to-back games against China and Iran.
With this win, Iran can leave Saudi Arabia satisfied with hardware in hand and high spirits restored. For Coach Sotirios Alex Manolopoulos’ squad, the third-place finish offers a reminder of their pedigree, and a platform to build upon for their new generation.
FIBA