CHINA and Iran remained unbeaten by defeating Kazakhstan and Hong Kong respectively at the FIBA Asia Championship of men’s basketball in China’s Changsha on Sunday.

    It was China’s fourth victory in the championship.

    With a 10-0 dream start, China established a 14-point advantage in the first quarter after Li Gen hit his ninth consecutive three-pointer in this year’s championship. Zhou Qi was knocked down but managed to came back in the second quarter to help China lead with 42-26 before halftime.

    Yi Jianlian had two slam dunks in a row to score seven straight points for China in the third quarter. Kazakhstan hit back with three three-pointers but China kept the double-digit lead to the end of the match 75-62.

    Captain Zhou Peng, who went back home to take care of his ill daughter and came back immediately, was sent on the court in the fourth quarter and received huge applause.

    “She is 38-day-old and I do worry a lot. But now the condition is steady and the doctors are confident she will have a speedy recovery,” said Zhou, “I’d like to thank my team for letting me go home to be with my family.”

    Iran smashed Hong Kong in the first Group E match 111-56. Five players scored double digits with Mohammad Jamshidi leading the team with game-high 22 points. Hong Kong was limited to four points in the second quarter.

    As one of three unbeaten teams after first phase of group stage match, Palestine missed the chance for a fourth straight victory with Jamal Abu-Shamala almost hitting a three-pointer to tie the game and lost to India 70-73.

    Amjyot Singh had match-high 32 points and topped India with 11 rebounds, Sani Sakakini and Jamal Abu-Shamala respectively contributed 23 and 21 points for Palestine.

    South Korea outscored Lebanon 85-71, Qatar lost to Jordan 73-84. (Xinhua)