TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian national basketball team finished in third place at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship after defeating Japan 68-63 on Saturday.

Iran captain Samad Nikkhah Bahrami finished with a game-high 35 points.

Keijuro Matsui led Japan with 18 points.

Though Japan has not reached the podium, they will not leave the FIBA Asia Championship empty-handed because both they and Iran will play at a FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

Host China will face the Philippines later in the day in the final match.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the 2016 Olympic Games.

By Tasnim News Agency