India trounce Iraq to stay alive in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualification race

Captain Muin Bek Hafeez starred for the Men in Blue with 17 points and 6 rebounds.

After a disappointing outing in Window 3, India kicked off its FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Final Qualifying Tournament with a commanding 97-77 victory over Iraq, narrowly missing the triple-digit mark.

Team captain Muin Bek Hafeez delivered an outstanding performance, sinking four of his five three-pointers in the third quarter and finishing with 17 points and 6 rebounds. On the opposing side, Mohammed Al-Khafaji led Iraq with 20 points, half of which came from the free-throw line.

India 🇮🇳 puts one foot on the FIBA Asia Cup qualification with a big win over Iraq 🇮🇶 in Round 2 of the Qualifiers. 🏀🔥Skipper Muin Bek Hafeez leads from the front to help beat Iraq 97-77.#FIBAAsiaCup2025 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/2qEHp6tBcm

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) March 22, 2025

India’s start was shaky as Palpreet Singh Brar fouled Al-Khafaji immediately after the tip-off, sending him to the charity stripe. However, India quickly regained momentum with Brar getting the first six points on the board and then Harsh Dagar hitting the first three-pointer, followed by successful perimeter shots from Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Muin Bek Hafeez.

The bigs Brar and Princepal Singh faced foul trouble early for Arvinder Singh Kahlon to check in early. Iraq responded with an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead. Both teams traded baskets in a fast-paced first quarter, which concluded in a 30-30 tie.

The second quarter saw a noticeable dip in scoring from both sides. It wasn’t until Kunwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu nailed a mid-range jumper that the Indian men’s basketball team broke the deadlock. Iraq managed its first points of the quarter through free throws after a foul by Kahlon. India’s defense tightened, restricting Iraq to just 8 points while adding 14 to their tally. This gave India a 44-38 lead heading into halftime.

Also Read: Five key takeaways from India’s campaign at FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Round 1

The third quarter belonged to Hafeez. He caught fire from beyond the arc, scoring effortlessly. Pranav Prince added eight points, while Kahlon chipped in towards the end of the quarter. Iraq’s hopes for a comeback were briefly sparked by a powerful dunk from Al-Khafaji, but it was waved off.

Despite India’s big men facing foul trouble, Iraq couldn’t take advantage. Al-Khafaji ended the quarter with four fouls, while India pulled away with a 19-point lead.

In the final quarter, Iraq tried to mount a comeback, with Demario Mayfield finally finding his rhythm. But the gap was too large. Pranav Prince put the finishing touch on India’s victory with a strong two-handed dunk off a steal and assist from Hafeez. Dagar’s aggressive drives and Kahlon’s steady play also stood out in the closing minutes.

While both teams were strong offensively, their weak defense led to the high-scoring game. India’s excellent three-point shooting, with over 50% accuracy from both beyond the arc and inside the paint, proved to be the game-changer.

India's stellar shooting night brings them one step closer to the FIBA #AsiaCup dream ✨ pic.twitter.com/qT9GI95Bpi

— FIBA Asia Cup (@FIBAAsiaCup) March 21, 2025

India’s head coach Scott Flemming acknowledged the team’s rebounding struggles, stating, “We need to rebound the ball a little better.” On the other hand, Iraq’s inability to convert second-chance opportunities and take advantage of India’s foul trouble further widened the gap.

India now face a tougher challenge against a higher-ranked Bahrain. A win would secure their place in the next round, but a loss would force them to rely on Bahrain defeating Iraq to maintain their top two standing. The upcoming match will be a crucial test of India’s resilience and ability to compete against Asia’s stronger teams.

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