Iran, New Zealand Battle for Spot on Podium
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 has come down to its final day, and while gold is no longer on the table for Iran and New Zealand, the motivation to walk away with hardware remains strong.
Iran’s Semi-Finals clash with defending champion Australia ended in disappointment, as the three-time Asia Cup winner struggled to match the Boomers’ size and pace. Now, after missing the podium in 2022, Team Melli has a shot at reclaiming a place among Asia’s top three.
New Zealand, meanwhile, saw its unbeaten run snapped by China on Day 11. It was another case of the Tall Blacks falling short of the championship game, but it can still match its 2022 third-place finish with a win here. Both sides enter at 4-1, and both have plenty left to prove in Jeddah.
Vahedi has been Iran’s leading scorer in the tournament, but his Semi-Finals performance fell below his usual standard. Expect the guard to come out aggressive in this final outing, seeking to set the tone early. King, on the other hand, continued to shine in New Zealand’s loss to China, showcasing the scoring punch and athleticism that have made him one of the competition’s breakout stars. Whichever top scorer finds their rhythm first could swing the momentum for their team.
This will be the first-ever FIBA Asia Cup meeting between Iran and New Zealand. It’s a debut clash with clear stakes: the winner leaves Jeddah with medals, the loser with a frustrating fourth-place finish.
For Iran, this is about restoring pride and returning to the podium after a generation of dominance earlier in the 21st century. For New Zealand, it’s about maintaining its place among the region’s elite and proving they can keep their spot on the podium.
