Mojave King and New Zealand turned a disastrous start against Lebanon into a defining win, as the Tall Blacks shocked the Cedars to earn a shot against China in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semifinals.
Comeback is real.
New Zealand staged an epic 22-point comeback to stun 2022 runners-up Lebanon, 90-86, and complete the semifinal cast of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, August 15 (PH time).
Mojave King fired a team-high 23 points, while Max Darling added a near double-double of 18 points and nine rebounds for the Tall Blacks, who rallied from a 35-13 deficit early in the second quarter.
Flynn Cameron and Tohi Smith-Milner combined for 25 points as New Zealand shot an ultra-efficient 64.1% from two-point range, but connected on just 26% from deep all game.
The Tall Blacks still trailed 66-56 with a little over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter before unleashing a scorching 18-6 run — capped by a King breakaway layup — to take the lead at 74-72 with 3:01 seconds left.
Despite Hayk Gyokchyan hitting a triple to tie it at 75, the Tall Blacks responded with a 10-3 blitz to build a seven-point cushion, 85-78, and never looked back. They arrange a marquee semifinal showdown against powerhouse China.
“We were in a big hole, we had to make some adjustments and we did. The mindset was to get to the rim, and we were able to turn it around. I’m so proud of this young group for grinding it out in the end,” New Zealand coach Judd Flavell said in the postgame press conference.
Meanwhile, Dedric Lawson paced Lebanon with a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Gyokchyan added 21 points highlighted by five threes.
Ali Mansour and Amir Saoud combined for 24 points, but Lebanon was outscored 78-54 in the final three quarters after building a commanding 20-point lead in the first.
[ALSO READ: China sees off Korea, marches on to FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semifinals]
The other semifinal will feature two-time defending champion Australia against three-time winner Iran.