ONE great FIBA Asia Cup 2025 comeback deserves an encore.
New Zealand authored its own miracle win, as it rallied from the depths of a 22-point deficit to shock Lebanon, 90-86, and take the last bus to semifinals of the continental meet early Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Tall Blacks appeared dead after trailing, 13-35, in the second quarter, but flipped the script around behind the steady plays of Mojave King and Max Darling in the second half to complete the huge comeback before a stunned crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City.
The inspiring win came just a day after Iran also mounted a climb back from 21 points down to nip Chinese Taipei, 78-75.
READ: Iran frustrates Taipei's semis bid behind dramatic comeback win
The undefeated Tall Blacks (4-0) advanced to the Final Four to face China, a 79-71 winner over South Korea in the other quarterfinal game earlier.
King had a team-high 23 points spiked by two three pointers, the last of which tied the game at 72 with under four minutes left.
His completed three-point play a few seconds later finally had New Zealand in the saddle, 75-72, and never looked back again.
Darling finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, as he kept the Kiwis afloat in the third quarter after trailing 45-30 at the half.
“It was a ballgame,” said New Zealand coach Judd Flavell.
“Lebanon in that first quarter could do no wrong. They made us pay for every mistake that we had. We were in a big hole, we had to make some adjustments and we did,” he added. “So proud of this young group to grind it out in the end.”
The Cedars got 24 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists from Dedric Lawson, while Hayk Gyokchyan had 21 points including, 15 from beyond the arc, as he sparked their sizzling shooting from the get-go, leading to that huge 22-point lead.
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