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Undefeated Australia and Iran set up FIBA Asia Cup semi-final showdown

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Updated 14 August 2025
SALEH FAREED
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Undefeated Australia and Iran set up FIBA Asia Cup semi-final showdown

  • The Aussies comfortably defeat the Philippines 84-60 but the Iranians have to battle back from 21 points down to edge Chinese Taipei 78-75
  • China take on Korea and New Zealand face Lebanon on Thursday as the continental basketball competition continues in Jeddah
Updated 14 August 2025
SALEH FAREED

JEDDAH: Australia and Iran booked their places in the semi-finals of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 with big wins over the Philippines and Chinese Taipei, as the men’s continental basketball competition continued on Wednesday night in Jeddah.

Reigning two-time champions Australia defeated the Philippines 84-60 and remain unbeaten in the competition since entering it for the first time in 2017.

The Boomers dominated from the start, sinking seven 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to building a 29-12 lead. Jaylin Galloway led the early charge, while Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay contributed impressive performances on the offensive and defensive fronts.

“I'm just really proud of how we rebounded and defended,” said coach Adam Caporn. “We just rallied on the defensive end and on the boards. I’m very happy.

Disappointed Philippines coach Tim Cone said: “We really liked our time together. I like the way we play, I like the togetherness, they are all easy to coach, but I didn’t like our performance tonight.”

Philippines center Justin Brownlee, whose 3-pointer forced overtime on Monday in the play-off victory over Saudi Arabia, was held in check this time by the Australian defense and finished with 10 points on 3-of-7 field goal shooting.

In the day’s other quarter-final, Iran completed one of the most dramatic comebacks ever seen at Asia Cup, reversing a 21-point deficit to edge Chinese Taipei 78-75 at King Abdullah Sports City.

The turnaround was about more than simply advancing to the semi-finals for the Iranians, it was about reaffirming their status as genuine title contenders.

“At halftime, we had a long talk and we changed the approach,” said coach Sotirios Manolopoulos. “We had to start from defense to play aggressively, possession by possession. We knew we will get our shots, and this time we will make our shots. For the second half, we played to our maximum.”

For Chinese Taipei, the defeat marked a heartbreaking end to the competition.

“We shot better but we still lost the game; this is basketball,” said coach Gianluca Tuccil.

Australia and Iran, both of whom are unbeaten in this year’s competition, will face off on Saturday at King Abdullah Sports City for a spot in the final.

China will take on South Korea and then New Zealand face Lebanon in the remaining two quarter-finals, which take place on Thursday.

Topics: FIBA Asia Cup

Salford ‘way more prepared’ for Man City rematch says manager

Updated 13 February 2026
AFP
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Salford ‘way more prepared’ for Man City rematch says manager

  • Karl Robinson is adamant Salford will be a better side when they return to the scene of last season’s 8-0 defeat by Manchester City
Updated 13 February 2026
AFP
LONDON: Karl Robinson is adamant Salford will be a better side when they return to the scene of last season’s 8-0 defeat by Manchester City.
The fourth-tier club side were thrashed by Pep Guardiola’s men in an FA Cup third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium.
They will now make the same short journey in England’s northwest in the fourth round on Saturday and the Salford manager is confident of a very different game.
“Last year was really emotional,” said Robinson. “It wasn’t too long ago our owners were leaning on iron bars watching non-league football.
“To then walk out at the Etihad in front of 60,000 with their football club was incredible. That’s the journey of all journeys.
“This year we have other things to worry about. We have a different mindset. We’ve learned from last year. We’ll be way more prepared.”
Playing City in the FA Cup was an indication of Salford’s rise through the ranks of English football from non-league level, with their ascent propelled by their takeover by a group of former Manchester United stars from the celebrated ‘Class of 92’.
Salford are now in their seventh successive campaign in League Two, with the ownership changing last year as a new consortium fronted by Gary Neville and David Beckham bought out their former Old Trafford teammates.
Forging their own identity in the shadow of some of England’s leading clubs is an issue for Salford, who will revert to their traditional orange kit after the ‘Class of 92’ brought in a red and white strip.
“Salford is a proper football club and that’s our message going into this game,” said Robinson.
“Last year we wore the red kit but we’ll wear our away kit this year, just to signify it’s a new era. We do sit separate to City and United. We have our own identity.
“We’re a completely different football club now.”
For all Robinson’s renewed optimism, City thrashed League One Exeter 10-1 in the last round of the FA Cup.
But he insisted: “There’s always hope, there’s always a possibility. You don’t know 100 percent. You might know the odds are 99.9 percent against, but there’s still that chance.
“Everyone goes to bed the night before with that thought of ‘what if?’, and that’s exciting.”

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