BASKETBALL behemoths China were spared the blushes of twin defeats after 16-year-old Li Weijie played Superman to pull his team back from the brink this afternoon at Anglican High School.

Weijie scored 15 points, 13 in the last five-minute period to hand China a hard fought 29-26 win over a formidable Iranian squad that had led by 13 points at one juncture.

Iran ended the first period with a 13-4 lead as China was uncharacteristically muddled in defence and off-target in shooting.

At the end of the second period, Iran were 20-11 up and it looked as the Chinese boys would taste defeat in their first overseas competition.

But Weijie's match-winning performance helped his team outscore Iran 18-6 in the final period to seal the match.

Said China's coach Song Xi of his charges' display of skill and persistence: 'The boys have what it takes to become the future stars of Chinese basketball.'

Earlier in the afternoon, China's girls team were spectacularly upset by Japan 32-33 in the girls' final.