TOKUSHIMA (Japan), Aug 4: Lebanon will battle it out with Iran for an Olympic berth after they defeated two-time former champions South Korea 76-74 in the Asian men’s basketball championship semi-finals on Saturday.

Fadi Elkhatib was the hero, scoring 32 points. Joseph Vogel scored 18 points and Brian Feghali 11 points.

Asian Games bronze medallists Iran beat Kazakhstan 75-62. Lebanon and Iran will be vying Sunday for the only direct ticket to the Beijing Olympics next year.

The second and third-placed teams will be eligible for the final Olympic qualifying round next July. Hosts China will have an automatic spot.

In other action, Jordan outclassed Qatar 77-67, while Taiwan beat Japan 85-80.

Jordan and Taiwan will play off for fifth place and Japan and Qatar will play for seventh place.

Four-time defending champions China, who have never missed out on a medal since they first took part in 1975, winning 14 times, ended in a humiliating 10th place after losing to the Philippines 78-76.

Syria took 11th place, beating Indonesia 108-79. Hong Kong finished 13th, beating Kuwait 72-66, and India were 15th, beating the United Arab Emirates 82-77.—AFP