Marc Gasol (C) of Spain shoots as Hamed Haddadi (L) and Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami of Iran defend during the group C match between Spain and Iran at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
GUANGZHOU, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- World No. 2 Spain edged Iran 73-65 to win its third straight game, topping Group C of FIBA World Cup here on Wednesday.
The two sides seesawed to the fourth quarter and leveled at 65-65 with 1:49 on the clock, before Sergio Llull hit a three-pointer, Victor Claver sent a slam dunk and Marc Gasol added another three to seal the victory for Spain.
Gasol had 16 points while Claver and Juancho Hernangomez added 11 apiece. Mohammad Jamshidijafarabadi scored 15 for Iran, Micheal Rostampour had 13 and Hamed Haddadi contributed 10.
"It was another close game, we started really bad, but the important thing is we got the win," Hernangomez said.
However, it was the Iranians who rushed into the game with a 10-0 run after Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi scored a three-pointer. Ricky Rubio and Gasol helped Spain back into the game by cutting the deficit to three, but Iran led 21-18 into the second quarter.
Then the two teams tied and changed leads frequently.
Spain, who led 33-31 into the halftime break, increased its advantage to nine at 52-43 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Jamshidijafarabadi and Rostampour combined a 10-0 spurt to lift Iran to a 53-52 lead into the last quarter before the dramatic 1:49 at the end.
Iran tailed in Group C after losing all its three games, while Spain next meets Italy and Serbia in the round of 16 for a quarterfinal spot.
"We qualified for the next round. It is a good point to start with," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said. "We struggle a little bit more, but we know our work is still in progress. Next round we will give more concentration."
Iran, who will play the Philippines and Angola in classification round of 17-32, still has the chance to directly qualify for the Tokyo Olympics as all Asian teams have failed to reach the round of 16.
Host China, the favorite other than Iran to finish the World Cup as the best Asian side, lost its final group game against Venezuela on Wednesday.
According to the qualification rules for Tokyo 2020, the FIBA World Cup offers seven direct qualifying tickets to next year's Olympic Games, while each continent is guaranteed with one Olympic berth at least.
"China will face Nigeria and South Korea. They are difficult for them. We will use this opportunity. Tomorrow is another day for us," Iran coach Mehran Shahintab said.
