Iran Falls in Overtime Thriller to New Zealand
Iran will replay those final seconds for a long time.
Two looks at the rim. Both from point-blank range. Both missed. And with them went a statement win, as New Zealand survived, 93-91, in overtime in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, Aug. 28.
The game ended in chaos under the basket. Mohammad Amini drove hard and rose for what looked like the tying shot, only for Sam Waardenburg to meet him at the summit and swat it away. The ball spilled loose, and suddenly it was Alireza Sharifi’s turn, a desperate putback to salvage Iran’s night. New Zealand swarmed, bodies flying, hands everywhere. The shot stayed out.
The Tall Blacks exhaled. Iran could only stare at the rim.
New Zealand now sit at 5-2, pulling level with Iran in the Group E standings, but the psychological swing feels far bigger. Iran not only dropped a game they had within reach; they did it two days before an all-or-nothing clash with Gilas Pilipinas on Sunday, back on the same floor.
Key Performers
For long stretches, this felt like Shea Ili’s game. The New Zealand guard dictated the tempo, attacked gaps, and punished every defensive lapse on his way to 24 points and six assists. When the offense stalled, he broke it open. When Iran threatened to seize control, he dragged the Tall Blacks back into it.
Around him, New Zealand’s size and work rate on the glass quietly tilted the contest. Sam Mennenga battled his way to a rugged double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, imposing himself in the paint. Reuben Te Rangi chipped in 13, stretching the floor and offering a steady veteran presence. Waardenburg, whose late block will stick in Iranian minds, added 11 and crucial defensive plays that never show on a box score but decide tight games.
Iran had their own standouts. Matin Aghajanpour carried the scoring load with 19 points, keeping Team Melli in touch whenever New Zealand threatened to pull away. Amini, despite the heartbreak at the end, poured in 16 and attacked with fearless intent. Seyed Mahdi Jafari added 14, giving Iran another reliable option in a game that demanded contributions from every rotation piece.
Game Dynamics
The contest swung like a pendulum. Iran’s half-court execution sharpened as the game wore on, their ball movement carving out clean looks. New Zealand answered with pace, physical defense, and second-chance opportunities. Neither side managed to land the knockout blow in regulation, and overtime felt inevitable.
Once there, every possession carried weight. A single rebound. A single rotation on defense. A single decision in transition. New Zealand found just enough winning plays; Iran found just enough frustration to walk away empty-handed.
And then came those final, cruel seconds.
For New Zealand, the win is more than just a number in the standings. It reinforces a belief that in tight games, they can trust their core to close. For Iran, it’s a gut punch on the eve of a defining showdown.
Looking Ahead
Sunday against Gilas Pilipinas now looms even larger. How quickly can Iran park the pain of Manila’s overtime heartbreak and summon the edge required for a do-or-die battle on the same court?
