TPE - Iran clinch second straight win

NEW TAIPEI CITY (2011 William Jones Cup) - Iran haven't been in the best of form this summer as they prepare for the FIBA Asia Championship.

All that matters for Hamed Haddadi and Co, however, is that the two-time defending champions are ready when the real games get underway.

Having suffered a couple of defeats in the William Jones Cup, the Iranians whipped UAE to even their record at 2-2 and they looked even better in their latest triumph, a 69-49 victory over Malaysia.

Haddadi, the lone NBA player in the Iranian side, had 13 points, seven rebounds and three swats against the Malaysians.

Malaysia battled hard for 20 minutes but in the third quarter, Iran blew the game wide open.

They stretched a 33-28 lead at the break to 59-34 by the end of the period.

Haddadi didn't do everything on his own.

Mousa Nabipour weighed in with 12 points and Asghar Kardoust added nine.

Jordan, meanwhile, may have captured the bronze at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship and joined Iran and China at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, but that didn't stop Japan from thrashing them 87-70.

The Jordanians, winners of three of their first four games at the William Jones Cup, had a 40-35 lead by half-time but Japan outscored them by 15 points in the next frame to take control.

Keijuro Matsui, who played American college basketball in the Ivy League at Columbia, poured in 25 points for the Japanese with Takeki Shonaka contributing 18.

Rasheim Wright, one of the leading players for Jordan the past two summers, finished with 26 points.

FIBA