Iran 'put hearts on the court' to win Asian Games basketball bronze

NAGOYA: In a remarkable feat, Iran overcame a late surge from China to clinch the bronze medal in men's basketball at the Asian Games on Sunday. The achievement came after months of conflict back in Iran, leaving the players "speechless" by their success. Facing a 31-29 deficit at halftime, Iran stormed back in the third quarter, taking control and finishing the game with a 79-70 victory.

Power forward Arsalan Kazemi, the first Iranian drafted by the NBA in 2013 but never playing a regular season game, expressed his disbelief at the team's resilience. "The pressure that we had on us is just out of this world," he admitted. "Not a lot of athletes can say that, with the way that it has been since almost six months ago, what we have been through, what our families have been through."

Kazemi praised his teammates for putting their "hearts on the court" to secure the win and bring joy to the Iranian people. Fellow forward Arman Zangeneh emphasized the significance of the medal for the players. "If you get the medal at the Asian Games you don’t need to go to the army any more, so it’s huge for some players," he noted.

The team's journey was no easy feat, as they had recently returned from the Philippines for the qualifiers and were now living in cramped conditions while competing. Despite the hardships, the players celebrated their victory and the emotional moment on the podium.