The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pulled out of the men’s basketball tournament at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, making the other two teams of Group B, Iran and Syria, automatically qualify for the quarter-finals regardless of the result of their upcoming clash, Tencent Sports reported on Thursday.

Originally there were four teams in Group B: UAE, Iran, Syria and the Philippines. However, the Philippines first announced that they had withdrawn from the basketball tournament in July and then decided to return. Meanwhile, as Palestine’s men’s basketball team pulled out of the Asian Games, leaving only two teams - China and Kazakhstan - in Group D. Therefore, the Philippines were sent to Group D to make sure that each group has at least three teams.

Now that the UAE has quit as well, Iran and Syria have qualified for the next round without even needing to play. Though the two teams will play against each other on August 25, that result is officially irrelevant.

Since the Asian Games' basketball tournament was not organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), multiple teams were not motivated to compete at the event and decided to quit, making the men’s basketball in Jakarta seem low rent.

China has sent Team Red, led by Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang, to play in the 2018 Asian Games. The team defeated Croatia 87-69 on Thursday at Stankovic Continental Cup 2018 and will meet their first rival in Group D Philippines on August 21.

(Top picture: VCG Photo)