Iran’s marksman Hamed Afagh being helped off the court because of a twisted ankle. Photo from Fiba.com
CHANGSHA CITY, China – Hamed Afagh, the deadly Iranian sniper, is listed as doubtful in the defending champions’ anticipated Final Four clash with host China in the Fiba Asia Olympic Quaifier on Friday at Changsha Social Work College Gym here.
This development surfaced after initial examination of a twisted right ankle the 6-foor-3 gunslinger suffered in a 75-62 victory over South Korea on Thursday that made the Iranians the first semifinalists.
READ: Iran whips Korea, advances to Fiba Asia 2015 Final Four
Afagh’s primary job in the squad is to knock down those long bombs every time Hamed Haddadi, the Iranians’ 7-foot-2 NBA veteran, finds trouble operating in the shaded lane.
He is an important piece in the Iranians’ clash with the Chinese, who dispatched of India in their quarterfinals game, since his outside shooting could help make life easier for Haddadi inside.
China has four 7-footers led by NBA veteran Yi Jianlian and Zhou Qi, and the Chinese could throw a consistent double team on Haddadi if there is not outside threat.
READ: Fiba Asia 2015: China rips India, sets semis collision with Iran
Against the Koreans, Afagh still managed to shoot 11 points built around a 3-for-6 clip from beyond the arc. He played just 19 minutes before being helped off the court late in the third quarter.
A mainstay of the Petrochimi squad in the Iranian pro league, Afagh has made eight three-pointers in six games.
Proof of his importance to the Iran team when he failed to score against Gilas Pilipinas last week, the Iranians went down in flames, 87-73.