Iran A Proud Basketball Nation, Australia Coach Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Australia basketball coach Andrejs Lemanis praised the Iranian basketball team, saying Iran is a "proud basketball nation".
Team Melli will meet Australia on Friday at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena in the FIBA World Cup qualifier's fifth and penultimate window.
Iran currently is second in Group F with a 6-2 record, behind Australia (7-1) and above the Philippines (5-3).
Also in the same group are Japan, Kazakhstan and Qatar.
“It would certainly be nice to secure our spot in the World Cup ... obviously winning (one of) these games at home now and ticking that box would be a good outcome," Lemanis told reporters on Wednesday.
"(Iran) is a good basketball nation, a proud basketball nation. This is a top-of-the-table clash.
"We had a great battle with them in the gold medal game of the Asia Cup and I know they'll be keen to try to turn the tables on that," he added.