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Asian Games: Japan's scandal-hit men's basketball team bows out of competition

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Jack Tarrant and Yuddy Cahya, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/28/japanese.jpg"/><figcaption>Japan&#x27;s Asian Games basketball players who returned from Jakarta, Indonesia, bow their heads to apologize as they arrive at the airport in Narita, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 20, 2018.</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA - Japan&#x27;s turbulent Asian Games basketball tournament, which saw 4 players sent home in disgrace, came to an end on Monday when they were beaten 93-67 by Iran in the quarter-finals.The Japanese Olympic Committee revoked 4 players&#x27; accreditation after they were found to have spent the night with women in a Jakarta hotel.The remaining 8 members of the squad had pulled off an emotional win over Hong Kong to reach the quarter-finals last Wednesday but found Iran a bridge too far.Unable to train five-on-five in the leadup to Monday&#x27;s game, or frequently rotate players in an out of the match-up, eventually took its toll.“Always, if you have 4 less players then it is tough, to play with only 8 players,” said Japan coach Herman Mandole.“Those 4 players made a big mistake and I accept the rules. That is not an excuse to not compete and not play tough.”Mandole said his team played well under the circumstances.“We are 8 players and since 1 week ago we haven’t had the possibility of practicing five-on-five,” said the Argentine.“In this scenario, this game was good because my players gave 100 percent, all the time. We competed for 35 minutes but the other 5 minutes they are better than us.”Iran will face South Korea in the semi-finals on Thursday after their 91-82 victory over the Philippines, who had 25 points from Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Jordan Clarkson.Clarkson had been cleared to play at the Asian Games by the NBA and made his national team debut earlier in the competition.

Japan's turbulent Asian Games basketball tournament, which saw 4 players sent home in disgrace, came to an end on Monday when they were beaten 93-67 by Iran in the quarter-finals.

Japan's turbulent Asian Games basketball tournament, which saw 4 players sent home in disgrace, came to an end on Monday when they were beaten 93-67 by Iran in the quarter-finals.

Asian Games: Japan's scandal-hit men's basketball team bows out of competition

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Asian Games: Japan's scandal-hit men's basketball team bows out of competition

Jack Tarrant and Yuddy Cahya,

Reuters

Published August 28, 2018 06:22 AM PHT

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2018 Asian Games

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