Iranian hoopsters fall to China in Asian University 3X3 Basketball Championship

Iranian basketball players have suffered their first loss at the third edition of Asian University 3X3 Basketball Championship in Malaysia, slumping to the Chinese side.

The Payame Noor University outfit, which is representing the Islamic Republic of Iran in the five-day tournament at the indoor Gem in Mall arena in the southern Malaysian town of Cyberjaya, was beaten 15-21 by China in its second game at the first round of the tournament on Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian sportsmen had defeated the Philippines 21-15 in their opening meet.

The Iranian basketball players are scheduled to play against Mongolia and Indonesia on Friday.

The third edition of Asian University 3X3 Basketball Championship started in Nilai, Malaysia, on April 12 and will finish on April 16, 2017.

The Iranian team has Mojtaba Khosravi, Mohammad Yazdanpanah, Mohammad Khorramshahi and Shayan Pourkaveh in its line-up.

On July 23, 2016, the Payame Noor University team managed to pick up the trophy at the end of the second edition of the Asian University 3×3 Basketball Championship in Macau, following a well-served victory over the hosts.

The Iranians defeated the Macau side 21-16 to stand on top of the table at the end of their campaign in the continental tournament.

The 3×3 (pronounced three on three) basketball is a form of the game played three a side on one hoop.

The basketball discipline is currently being promoted and structured by FIBA, and the highest tournament for national 3×3 teams is the FIBA 3×3 World Championships.