Smart Gilas comes up short in FIBA Asia Semis

Source : FIBA Asia

Smart Gilas

MANILA, Philippines (22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Smart Gilas suffered their first defeat in the competition, a heartbreaking one at that, bowing out 77-80 to twice defending champions Mahram in the quarterfinals on Saturday, but not before giving the mighty Iranians a good run for their money.

Samad Nikkhah Bahrami converted three free-throws, on two different fouls, with less than 20 seconds on the clock to keep Mahram’s dream of a three-peat alive.

Chris Tiu almost turned that dream into an Iranian nightmare when he fired in twice in succession once from outside the perimeter and once bringing the score close to 75-77 after Mahram seemed to have taken control of the proceedings for the first time in the game.

Bahrami had led Mahram’s fourth quarter charge giving them a 7-point cushion till Tiu made those sizzlers sending the partisan and packed PhilSports Arena into delirious joy.

Bahrami scored 8 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.

The manner in which Dondon Hontiveros and Mark Barocca took turns to hustle and rustle the more accomplished rival point guard Mahdi Kamrani taking the latter to the brink of his temper in the early moments of the game was example enough for the preparations Rajko Toroman had put the Smart Gilas for the game.

As things would transpire, Kamrani had the last laugh scoring 17 points and but Mahram’s form and lead on the scoreboard was directly proportional to the time Kamrani managed to break the leash.

“I think it was our experience which helped us sail through,” said Mahram coach Mehran Shahintab.

“We (Mahram) were playing a team of this style and speed for the first time in a long time,” Shahintab said.

“All the opponents we played so far were from WABA or the Gulf. They were more or less similar in style – physical and depending on size. But this (Smart Gilas) was relying more on speed. It took time for us to get our bearings,” said the coach who earlier coached Saba Battery to back-to-back titles in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2007 and 2008.

 “I’m proud of the way the boys played against a team that is stronger than the Iranian National Team,” Toroman said.

“It was a question doing our best falling short against a team which was coming up with something better all the time,” said Smart Gilas’ naturalized player Marcus Douthit who had a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds.

“We managed to box them out, but every time we boxed somebody out, somebody else came up and troubled us,” the ex-American said.

Smart Gilas have already achieved their best position yet in three appearances in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup and within the reach of their first ever medal when they play the bronze play-off on Sunday.