Group E top spot at stake in Gilas-Iran showdown

CHANGSHA – Iran has been super dominant, coming off four wins with a whopping average margin of 48.75 points as the defending champ tangles with Gilas Pilipinas in the penultimate day of elimination stage of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship here.

The Iranians, winners of three of the last four editions of the biennial Asian meet, stretched their mighty rampage with a 111-56 rout of Hong Kong at the start of the second round of the elims Sunday.

Meanwhile, India stopped Palestine’s own unbeaten streak with a 73-70 decision.

Six-foot-8 forward Amjyot Singh erupted for 32 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Indians to the crucial win that put them in a position to contend for the knockout stage from Group E.

Palestine, with a surprise sweep of Gilas Pilipinas, Kuwait and Hong Kong in the first round, missed outright playoffs entry with the loss to India.

Iran seeks automatic playoff top seeding from Group E as it squares off with Team Phl in a highly anticipated matchup at 11:45 a.m. today.

It will be marked by the first ever showdown between Iran’s 7-foot-2 behemoth Hamed Haddadi and Gilas naturalized player Andray Blatche.

The Nationals also get a shot at No. 1 spot if they end a streak of losses at the hands of Haddadi and the rest of the talent-laden Iran side.

Iran has been the most impressive team in the tourney, pounding Japan, 86-48; pummeling India, 88-66; and crushing Malaysia, 122-42, before their 55-point blasting of Hong Kong.

Young power forward Mohammad Saberi was the leading performer for Iran in the first round with averages of 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

Haddadi, Nikkhah Bahrami, Mahdi Kamrani and Asghar Kardoust all put in 10 points an outing in the same round.

Against Hong Kong, Mohammad Jamshidi came out of his shell, top scoring with 22 points.

But even with all their weapons, the Iranians can be beaten, as the Filipinos believe.

“We’ve beaten them three times but not in FIBA Asia. Who knows, we can finally beat them here,” said Gilas forward Ranidel de Ocampo.

Team Phl last won against Iran in the 2012 Jones Cup but the Iranians quickly got back at the Filipinos in the succeeding FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo. Gilas hasn’t beaten Iran since then.