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FIBA Asia Cup: Gilas Pilipinas falls again to Iran, relegated to battle for third
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The Gilas Pilipinas national team suffered its first loss of the FIBA Asia Cup on Friday in the semifinals against familiar foe Iran, 76-55, in Wuhan, China.
The defeat denied the Philippines entry into the title round of the tournament.
It marks the third straight defeat of Gilas against the reigning Asia champions in FIBA Asia competition. Iran also defeated the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo in 2012 before repeating the feat in the gold medal game in last year's FIBA Asia Championship in Manila.
Gilas was dealt a big blow early in the contest after naturalized center Marcus Douthit committed two quick fouls in the first quarter. With no one to guard behemoth former NBA center Hamed Haddadi, the Gilas defense were forced to help out, freeing Iran's shooters led by 19-year-old Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi to snipe from beyond the arc.
Iran opened up its first double-digit lead, 36-26, on a Haddadi score with 2:04 remaining in the second quarter. The West Asians remained in control through most of the second half, leading by as much as 20 points, 55-35, after an 11-0 blitz.
Gilas tried to muster an uprising, but couldn't muster enough points against the tough Iranian defense.
Against a bigger Iran squad, the Philippines' outside shooting failed, as Gilas gunners managed just 3-of-21 (14 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Paul Lee, the top scorer for the Philippines in each of the team's last four wins, managed just four points after missing all four of his three-point attempts.
Ranidel De Ocampo, LA Tenorio, and Gary David scored 11 points apiece for Gilas. Douthit struggled with just six points on 2-of-13 shooting. As a whole, Gilas shot just 33 percent from the field.
Youngsters led the way for Iran, with 22-year-old Mohammad Jamshidi scoring 19 points and Yakhchalidehkordi adding 18 on four three-pointers.
Against a bigger Iran squad, the Philippines' outside shooting failed, as Gilas gunners managed just 3-of-21 (14 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Paul Lee, the top scorer for the Philippines in each of the team's last four wins, managed just four points after missing all four of his three-point attempts.
Ranidel De Ocampo, LA Tenorio, and Gary David scored 11 points apiece for Gilas. Douthit struggled with just six points on 2-of-13 shooting. As a whole, Gilas shot just 33 percent from the field.
Youngsters led the way for Iran, with 22-year-old Mohammad Jamshidi scoring 19 points and Yakhchalidehkordi adding 18 on four three-pointers.
Despite the defeat, the Philippines can still improve its standing from the last FIBA Asia Cup two years ago, when it finished fourth after losing to Qatar in the third-place game. Gilas will face either China or Chinese Taipei in the battle for third. — JST, GMA News
