Shea Ili takes Tall Blacks to win over Iran
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Tall Blacks have beaten Iran 91-93 in overtime in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in the Philippines.
Captain Shea Ili delivered the decisive late plays as New Zealand claimed claimed the victory with an allround performance.
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The pivotal moment arrived in overtime with 3:13 left, when guard Shea Ili knocked down a two-point jumper to tie the game at 84-84. New Zealand followed with another basket to move ahead, closing that crucial stretch in front 84-87.
Later in the extra period, with just 18 seconds remaining and the score at 90-92 in New Zealand’s favor, Iran had a golden opportunity to seize the lead. Matin Aghajanpour launched a three-pointer from center court that would have put Iran up 93-92, but the shot missed its mark.
Ili was the undisputed hero for New Zealand, finishing with 24 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, and a game-high efficiency rating of 26 in 30:13 of action. He posted a +7 plus/minus, remarkably without a single turnover or foul.
In the 10:00 of crunch time, Ili guided New Zealand’s offense with surgical precision, adding 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and once again committing no turnovers.
Forward Sam Mennenga provided a strong inside presence, contributing 15 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in 28:52 for an efficiency of 19. Mennenga shot an efficient 7-of-11 from the field.
Reuben Te Rangi added 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in 23:35, also without a turnover. On the other side, Iran were led by Matin Aghajanpour, who poured in 19 points and knocked down four three-pointers.
Iran’s biggest surge came in the second quarter, when they unleashed a 14-0 run to erase an 11-point deficit, turning a 36-25 gap into a 39-36 lead. Aghajanpour spearheaded the comeback, scoring 11 points on perfect shooting-3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line-during this stretch.
New Zealand’s most significant run was an 0-8 burst in the same quarter, extending their lead from 25-28 to 25-36. Ili contributed 5 points on 2-of-2 shooting, while Te Rangi chipped in 3 points and grabbed a rebound during the run.
The win is the second overtime victory in the World Cup Qualifiers after the double OT over the Philippines in the first round
The Tall Blacks next game is against Syria.
