Iran - 3 giant powers Iran past debuting RP five

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The San Miguel-Philippine team failed to stop Iran's 7-foot-3 giant and took a 101-88 loss Sunday in the 18th FIBA Asia Champions Cup at the Azadi Sports Complex here.

The towering, 330-lb Joseph Garth from the Dominican Republic unloaded 39 points and had 12 rebounds to lead Iran's Saba Battery Club to a second straight win following its 78-48 rout of Bahrain on Saturday.

But RP coach Chot Reyes said that more positive things are in store for the Nationals

"We have yet to play our best while they (Iranians) played as well as they can play," said Reyes, after the loss that spoiled the Nationals' debut in the eight-nation tournament, Asia's premier club championship.

"Still, I think our guys did pretty well, considering two of our main players in Mark (Caguioa) and Danny (Seigle) haven't played in an international competition before. This being our first international competition as a team, we viewed this as an initial test of our focus, energy and teamwork. Although we lost, I think the team passed (the test)."

The Nationals try to bounce back Monday against the Astana Tigers of Kazakhstan in a game set at 8:45 p.m. (1:15 a.m. Tuesday, Manila time).

The Kazakhs rebounded from a 70-94 loss to Syria's Al Jalaa last Saturday by whipping Bahrain's Al Musarraq, 96-74, on Sunday.

"Kazakhstan is an entirely different challenge," said Reyes. "They have two Russian imports and, though they are tall, they are mobile. Also, their wingmen have found their touch after struggling against Syria.

"But the real challenge is how our boys will react after that loss to Iran. Ganyan talaga sa (It's like that in) international competitions, you don't have much time to adjust."

Kazakhstan does not have a hulking giant like Garth, who was benched when Iran outplayed Bahrain in their Group B debut.

Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi and Enrico Villanueva, the Philippines' big men, just didn't have the size to contain Garth. They also ended up battered and bruised defending the Iranian import.

"I'm the biggest guy in the PBA and I've never ever before had to hold off somebody with two hands," said the 6-9, 260-lb Taulava.

"He hurt my (right) shoulder on his first spin against me," said Pennisi, a known bruiser for Red Bull. "So the next time up, I gave him a hard slap and it's my whole arm that stung. I go, 'Oh, I'm sorry' and he just brushes it off like a fly."

Taulava also remained upbeat that his team will accomplish its ultimate mission of doing well here and using the experience as springboard for next week's Seaba tilt and July's FIBA Asia championship.

"They're not going to have somebody that big, that strong, that solid in the FIBA Asia," said the Talk 'N text center.

Dondon Hontiveros had 23 points and Caguioa 19 for the Nationals, who came out tight but flashed their form in the second half.

It was Garth who was the big difference with his mini-hooks and backboard-bending dunks.

Garth made 15 of 17 shots and hit nine of 11 free throws, hitting 10 of his points after the Filipinos whittled a 51-36 Saba lead to 52-56.

Caguioa scored eight points and Hontiveros six in the RP rally that fanned the hopes of the few Filipino fans here led by consul Renato Dueñas.

But Garth simply took over with his three-point play capping a 19-7 run that gave Iran a 75-59 spread. The Iranians later stretched it to 91-73 with 3:26 left in the game.

The scores:
IRAN 101 -- Garth 39, S. Bahrami 17, Nzafat 16, A. Bahrami 9, Muoneke 9, Afagh 8, Afradi 2, Veisi 1.
SAN MIGUEL-RP 88 -- Hontiveros 23, Caguioa 19, Pennisi 13, De Ocampo 7, Raymundo 6, Taulava 5, Ritualo 3, Alapag 2, Dela Cruz 2, Villanueva 2, Helterbrand 0.
Quarters: 32-25, 51-38, 78-64, 101-88