Mahram knocks Gilas out for a Champions Cup slot

Mahram knocks Gilas out for a Champions Cup Finals slot

by rick olivares with pic by brosi gonzales

June 4, 2011

Philsports Arena

Mahram Iran reasserted its mastery over Smart Gilas Pilipinas with an 80-77 win to book the first finals seat of the 22^nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

Sammad Nikkah Bahrami, one of Mahram’s six national players, bucked early foul trouble to score eight huge points in the payoff period including three free throws in the last 19 seconds to give his side sufficient room to withstand a last ditch rally by the Filipinos to send the match into overtime.

The Iranians who are the two-time defending champions of the tournament, bared their game plan right from their opening possession as they attacked Gilas’ thin frontline that had the 7’1” Cheikh Samb, 6’10’ Ashgar Kardoust, 6’7” Chris Williams, and the 6’6” Bahrami. They even had the 7’4” Jaber Rouzbahani in reserve.

Gilas could only counter their height advantage with their pair of 6’11” forward-centers in Marcus Douthit and Japeth Aguilar and the 6’9” Asi Taulava who isn’t the spry athletic marvel he once was.

And right from the get-go, the Mahram guards dumped the ball inside to Samb who scored his side’s first four points and forced Gilas to tighten their interior defense. That was immediately shredded by veteran point guard Mahdi Kamrani who had the space to drive for three layups.

Jayvee Casio answered Kamrani’s outburst with one of his own as he poured in eight points including a triple right before the end of the first period that put the Philippines on top 21-20.

The taller Iranians renewed their assault on Gilas’ interior in the second frame as Bahrami and Chris Williams posted up their guards. Despite Gilas’ Marcus Douthit holding Samb and Kardoust at bay with his strong inside play, the lead at the half swung Mahram’s way 45-39.

Marcio Lassiter gave Gilas another three-point option when he and Casio each nailed a pair of treys to forge a 62-all tie at the end of the third.  As Casio’s buzzer beating three swished through the net, the crowd of over 8,000 people that was predominantly pro-Filipino, screamed out in ecstasy as they sensed an upset.

But Mahram, which Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman declares is a much better team than the Iranian national team because Samb and Williams more than offset the absence of Memphis Grizzlies 7’2” center Hamed Haddadi, stopped Gilas cold with Bahrami’s huge fourth period splurge.

The Filipinos, staring at a 77-70 deficit with 3:23 left, came roaring back as Chris Tiu scored five points in 10 seconds while Casio drove in for a twinner to bring down the lead to 78-77 with 12 seconds to play.  But Casio, who finished with 16 points behind Douthit’s 20 that paced Gilas, fouled Bahrami in an effort to send him to stop the clock and get the ball back for one last offensive. Bahrami, who earlier missed one free throw, this time made good on both.

But Mark Barroca and Lassiter both missed their final three-point attempts as time ran out.

It was a sorry loss for Gilas which won their first five matches in their best ever stint in the tournament. However, it was Mahram’s third win over Gilas in the last three Champions Cups.

During the nationals’ first foray into the FIBA tournament, they lost 98-87 in their second match of group play to Mahram that had seven-footer Priest Lauderdale and the amazing Jackson Vroman who finished with a game high 42 points.

The following year, the Iranians, this time with 7’2” center Loren Woods playing behind Vroman, they pounced 86-72 on a weaker Gilas team that featured the 6’10” Milan Vucicevic in the middle.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials led by President Manuel V. Pangilinan and Vice President Ricky Vargas visited the Gilas dugout after the match to offer encouragement. SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios quoted Pangilinan as saying, “Let’s look forward to winning the bronze which is an achievement. In our three years, we have not had a medal finish so this is a big achievement for us.”

“This is the first time I have congratulated a team after a loss,” said Vargas to which Talk ‘N Text head coach and Gilas assistant Chot Reyes added, “Minsan panalo na nga galit ka pa.”

Gilas will play Al Rayyan Qatar at 4pm for third place while Mahram Iran will play archrival Al Riyadi Lebanon for the championship at 6pm.

Mahram Iran 80 – Bahrami 19, Kamrani 17, Samb 17, Williams 16, Afagh 11, Davari 0, Davoudichegani 0, Sahakian 0, Kardoust 0.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas 77 – Douthit 25, Casio 21, Aguilar 8, Lassiter 8, Tiu 7, Lutz 4, Barroca 2, Hontiveros 2, Taulava 0, Baracael 0.

Notes: Iran’s other national team players aside from Bahrami include Mahdi Kamrani, Oshin Sahakian, Ashgar Kardoust, Javad Davari, and Eslamieh Afagh. 


Personal notes: The loss was gut wrenching. I didn't know how to write the match -- whether to do it as a recap or just plain write from the gut. I figured I'd sleep over it and save all my thoughts for the post-tournament. Gilas had their chances for sure but we just were not able to cash in. Rajko Toroman said that one reason why Iran has remained tough is the clutch is their experience. "They played Argentina with Ginobili, Germany with Nowitski, China with Yao Ming... they are used to playing at a high level." However, they have an opportunity to finish third place today. I'll be there watching and cheering as usual. Other stories you will read about in the next few days: the KL Dragons, Samaki Walker, and Veselin Matic.

Photo taken during the Gilas rally so we are all in smiles. In the back are Fil-Am hopeful Jerome Rubi and Ateneo's Chris Newsome and Greg Slaughter. Sheikh Noel Zarate is in the background somewheres.