Gilas Pilipinas loss to Iran | Asian Games 2014

Reigning FIBA Asia Championships and FIBA Asia Cup titlists Iran came through in the clutch to once again torment the Philippine national men’s basketball team, 68-63, to top Group E in the 2014 Asian Games basketball tournament in Incheon, Korea.

Gilas Pilipinas positioned itself as a true threat to Iran in this game, coming back from an early double-digit lead to hold the lead for much of the second half before eventually falling short in the end.



Iran scored the final seven points of the contest.

Veteran Samad Nikkhah Bahrami scored 21 points to lead Iran while former NBA player Hamed Haddadi posted 20 points and 15 rebounds in the games.

Paul Lee led the Philippines with 11 points while Marcus Douthit and LA Tenorio had 10 apiece.

The Iran offense was in full swing in the first quarter. Bahrami was in top form, hitting threes and driving to the basket for with ease to score 10 points while Haddadi manned the post admirably as the FIBA Asia champs looked to stamp their class in a second straight game.

They opened the game on a 19-6 run and closed the period with a 12-point advantage, 29-17.

But Gilas Pilipinas, bidding to win its first Asian Games gold in over 50 years, was not about to let Iran steamroll through without a real, credible fight.

After giving up 29 points in the first period, the Filipinos clamped down in the second period, allowing only seven points, even holding mighty Iran scoreless for a stretch of over four minutes.

Douthit anchored the steadfast Gilas defense, stuffing both Haddadi and point guard Mehdi Kamrani in their respective forays into the paint and even stepping out to block Bahrami on an attempt in the perimeter. Read full story here