Iran ousts South Korea to clinch semis berth

CHANGSHA – Iran erased the sad memory of its Incheon Asiad gold-medal game loss to South Korea, playing a relentless game throughout to get back at the Koreans, 75-62, Thursday and earn the first berth in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship Final Four at the Changsha Social Work Gymnasium here. 

The Iranians engaged the sleek, sweet-shooting Korean team to a defensive battle, controlling the boards and neutralizing in particular the Koreans’ dreaded gunners in the decisive victory that sent them to an expected semifinal showdown with the host team.

China was expected to blast India in their own Final Eight duel later in the night.

“We prepared two and half months for these last three games. One game down and two to go. We played real good defense and it paid off against the Koreans,” said scrappy Iranian forward Oshin Sahakian.

With their super formidable starting five of Hamed Haddadi, Nikkhah Bahrami, Mahdi Kamrani, Hamed Afagh and Sahakian, the Iranians imposed themselves early, leading all the way in their second straight win following their loss to Gilas Pilipinas in the second round of the prelims.

“Our players understood that the Koreans always play well early in games. They were 18 points up on China and 12 up against Qatar before losing those games,” said Iran coach Dirk Bauermann.

“Our players understood that we’d got to come out ready and win the first five minutes of the game. And I think we did. Doing that helped make the rest of the game easier for us,” Bauermann added.

Haddadi collected 18 points and 14 rebounds while Sahakian and Afagh added 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Iranians inched closer to a fourth finals in the last five stagings of the biennial regional meet.

Third placers in Wuhan in 2011 and in Manila in 2013, the Koreans failed to make a third straight semifinals as they sputtered in the face of the stonewall Iran defense.

They were held to a measly 2-of-13 three-pointers and were badly battered at the paint, 28-44.

“I think the key really was our defensive performance. It was an outstanding performance against outstanding offensive team,” said Bauermann.

Coach Kim Dong Kwang said the Iranians were able to exploit their rich experience against the rookie-laden Korean team.

With the loss, the Koreans were relegated to the consolation round where the best placing they can get is fifth. 

“They have played outstanding basketball up to this point. They nearly had China beat, and they lost to Qatar only in overtime,” said Bauermann.

“I was really impressed how well they’ve played up to this point. Though they lost today, they extremely played well through the tournament,” Bauermann added.