Seals final four date vs Iran: Gilas hurdles scrappy India

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas cut a much-improved Indian team down to size with its superior skills and unrelenting offensive early on but went through some anxious moments at endgame before pulling off a 70-66 victory for a slot in the Final Four against mighty Iran in the fifth FIBA Asia Cup at the Wuhan Sports Centre in Wuhan, China last night.

The Nationals built a 16-point lead in the last five minutes but went scoreless the rest of the way, barely surviving the Indians to set up a semifinal duel with Asia Cup titleholder and FIBA Asia Championship champ Iran.

Former NBA player Hamed Hadadi delivered 14 points and 10 rebounds while young forward Mohammad Jamshidi erupted for 26 points as Iran clobbered Jordan, 75-60.

Chinese Taipei, riding the crest of a fourth-place finish behind Iran, the Philippines and Korea in the last Asian meet at the MOA Arena in Manila, also entered the Asia Cup semis with a 76-62 a drubbing of Japan.

Host China was heavily favored to beat Singapore in their own quarters faceoff late last night.

The Nationals hung tough against the tall, scrappy Indians who seized the initiative early with an all-around performance so uncommon from the kind of game they dished out and the Filipinos feasted in past international encounters.

No longer were there the plodding, awkward Indian dribblers who now display the stuff that could eventually make them a regional powerhouse under the tutelage of former NBA D-League coach Scott Flemming.

But the Nationals settled down after 10 minutes of play and methodically wore down the Indians with their incisive passing, up-tempo game and deadly offensive from the quartercourt starring Ranidel de Ocampo and Jay Washington. Naturalized player Marcus Douthit also dominated inside, routing the Indians with putbacks while Paul Lee and LA Tenorio cranked up the Nationals offensive with their speed and quickness.

But they appeared to have relaxed after surging to 56-40 bulge and nearly paid for it as the Indians struck back and gave the Filipinos a scare by charging to within five, 65-70, with 1:35 left to play.

The Indians could have even made it a two-point game but P. Singh missed a three-point try with 20 seconds to go.

Like the last time against Jordan, the Filipinos had a tough time closing out India.

With their lead down to five at 70-65, the Nationals’ fate hung at endgame on a fumbled throw-in coming off a huddle then two missed free throws by LA Tenorio.

The Nationals pulled through with another escape in the end, though, thus keeping a perfect ride in the tourney.

 Gilas buckled down to work in the middle quarters and built enough lead to overcome its faltering windup.

De Ocampo, Lee and Marcus Douthit provided the spunk and firepower in their decisive charge in the second and third quarters with the trio finishing with a combined output of 42 points.

Lee knocked in three treys and once again paced the Nationals with 15 markers. Douthit came through with 14 points and 12 rebounds while De Ocampo added 13 points with 2-of-2 treys.

The Indians took the initiative in the first six minutes of play before the Nationals went to work, applying the press to grab the upper hand, 20-17, at the end of the opening quarter.

De Ocampo and Washington fired three straight triples to ignite a key run as the Nationals seized control at 56-40.