Iran hammers Kazakhstan, sweeps prelims
Iran once again showed that it means business in this 27th FIBA Asia Championship after smashing Kazakhstan, 85-53, and completing the preliminary rounds with a clean slate earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. It is the only undefeated team in the tournament after erstwhile-unbeaten Chinese Taipei bowed to Qatar also today.
The Mutt and Jeff duo of Mehdi Kamrani and Hamed Haddadi paved the way for the rout, delivering a combined 27 points, most of which came in the first 30 minutes of the game. Kamrani actually scored nine points in the first half alone to go along with 7 assists and 2 steals. Deadly sniper Hamed Afagh also shone for the two-time Asian champions, as he shot 6-out-of-9 from the field to finish with 15 points and three steals.
Man of the Game: Haddadi was unstoppable as always inside the paint, sizzling for 16 points and 9 boards in just 18 minutes of action.
But Iran’s task became easy as Kazakhstan opted to sit out naturalized player Jerri Jonson to preserve him for the quarterfinals on Friday.
The Iranians used the 2-3 zone against an equally tall and hefty Kazakhstan team. This allowed them to score in transition off the Kazakhs’ missed shots and turnovers. Iran had 27 turnover points and 14 fast break points. Kazakhstan had 21 turnovers and shot a poor 19 of 55 from the field.
Rustam Yargaliyev topscored for Kazakhstan with 14 markers, while Timur Sultanov and Vitaliy Lapchenko added 8 points apiece.
Iran will enter the quarterfinals as the No. 1 team in Group F and will face Jordan, which took the No. 4 spot in Group E after ousting Japan, 65-56, earlier today. Kazakhstan finished at No. 4 in Group F, following Korea (No. 2) and China (No. 3).
