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IRI / JPN – Japan find Iran too hot
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men): Ernad Salmani and Mehdi Shirjang struck the early blows and Mohammad Hasanzadeh gave the finishing touches to steer hosts Iran to a convincing 111-91 win over Japan in Group II action of the Quarterfinal round on Sunday.
Salmani scored 13 of his team-high 22 points and Shirjang 12 of his 19 points in the first half to pull Iran away from a seemingly equal position early in the second quarter.
Salmani also pulled down 11 rebounds and had eight assists.
“We were wary of their speed early in the game,” Iran coach Nebojsa Raicevic said.
“But I think we settled into a nice rhythm late in the first quarter, which carried us through,” the Serbian said.
Hasanzadeh put up a stellar show in the fourth quarter to quash the Japanese hopes of any late rally.
The 201cm center scored 13 of his 17 points and collected 13 of his game high 22 rebounds in the fourth quarter as Iran cantered away.
Iran won the battle of rebounds 68-43.
“I think the height difference was a huge factor,” said Japan Yuji Yoshida.
“They didn’t give us any room inside and were simply too tall under the board,” he said.
Yusoke Karino was the most enthusiastic player on the Japanese front with a game-high 23 points.
Karino sunk seven of his 16 three-pointer attempts in, but was curbed to only three shots from inside.
“I think that (holding back Karino) was the key to our win,” Raicevic said.
“The boys are getting better and better both in the game as well as in confidence,” he said adding “Tomorrow will be a bigger test.”
Iran play Korea on Sunday and Japan take on Philippines.
Scores
Iran 111 (Ernad Salmani 22, Mehdi Shirjang 19, Mohammad Hasanzadeh 17, Sabooni Varnisavadarani 14, Farbod Farman 13) bt Japan 91 (Yusoke Karino 23, Yuya Nagayoshi 18, Daichi Taniguchi 14, Kaito Ishikawa 14). Quarterwise Scores: 24-21, 53-46, 78-63.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia
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