FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 WABA Qualifiers:
Iran edges host Jordan to advance
Iran defeated host Jordan 80-77 in Amman on Friday to secure a place at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, which begins on August 13 in Ahmedabad, India.
Mohammad Yashar Kamalkhaledi recorded 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists as Iran maintained its perfect record in the West Asia sub-zone qualifiers, sealing qualification with one game to spare ahead of its final fixture against Lebanon.
Amirreza Azari added 13 points, while Mohammad Shamsi (12), Soheil Soleimannejad (10) and Mohammadsaleh Pakgohar (10) also scored in double figures.
Tamer Anky led Jordan with a game-high 23 points and 13 assists for a double-double, while Mohammad Badwan also scored 23 points. Mutaz Swais and Laith Sahlieh chipped in with 14 points apiece.
Iran opened its campaign with a 97-87 victory over Palestine on Tuesday before routing Iraq 96-29 and defeating Syria 82-61.
The top three teams in the round-robin tournament will qualify for the continental championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. The four semifinalists at the Asia Cup will earn berths at the global tournament, scheduled to be held in Pardubice, Czechia, in June next year.