Never-say-die Gilas yields to tall Iran

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca and Marcio Lassiter missed potential game-tying three-pointers in the closing seconds and Smart Gilas Pilipinas saw the end of its romp in the 2011 Fiba Asia Champions Cup, bowing to reigning back-to-back champion Mahram of Iran, 80-77, in a semifinal game last night at the Philsports Arena.

The Nationals came up short in their brave stand against the taller and heftier Iranians and were relegated to the fight for third place versus either Al Rayyan of Qatar or Al Riyadi of Lebanon at the close of the tough Asian inter-club championship today.

Mahram, featuring the core group of the Iran national team reinforced by two good imports in 7-foot-2 Senegalese Chiekh Samb and Christopher Williams, got a shot at a third straight Champions Cup title but not without a scare.

Smart Gilas, priming up for the Asian Olympic qualifier in Wuhan, China in September, dragged Mahram to a close game largely behind JV Casio’s torrid outside shooting and Marcus Douthit’s big production inside the paint.

The Nationals let the Iranians escape in the end, though, as Barroca and Lassiter misfired a three-point attempt each in the last six seconds.

Falling behind by seven entering the homestretch, the Nationals got back into the fight, 75-77, on a five-point binge by Chris Tiu with 19.5 seconds left.

Smart Gilas made it a one-point game eight seconds later as Nikkah Bahrami split from the charities then Casio scored on a driving layup.

Bahrami himself made it 80-77 on a quick foul by Smart Gilas. Then came Smart Gilas’ eventual downfall with Barroca’s and Lassiter’s three-point attempts missing the target.

Bahrami piled up 19 points, including eight in the fourth quarter while skipper Mahdi Kamrani, Samb and Williams added 17, 17 and 16, respectively, for the Iranian Premiere League champs.

“I’m proud of my players even if we lost. We have nothing to be ashamed of. Mahram is stronger than the Iran national team because it is composed mostly of the Iran national players plus two imports,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

Douthit, the naturalized Filipino player who piled up 25 points and 13 rebounds, was also all praises for his teammates.

“Mahram is a great experienced team but we fought until the end. We didn’t give up. We showed character,” said Douthit.

“We were a lot more experienced, and it helped us a lot in this game,” said Kamrani through an interpreter.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios said president Manny Pangilinan and chairman Ricky Vargas praised the team for its gallant stand against the Iranians and wished them luck as they shoot for the bronze.

“Our SBP bosses, Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas, congratulated the boys. The marching order now is to win the bronze,” said Barrios.

The Filipinos looked doomed after trailing, 70-77, with less than a minute to go but Tiu kept the team and the crowd alive with a lay-up and a clutch triple.