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IRI / SYR – Farman takes Iran to the final
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men): Farbod Farman powered his way to grab the rebound, convert under the board and took Iran into the final with an 80-78 win over a spirited Syria in the first semifinal on Thursday.
Farman’s success which came after Emad Salmani missed the second free-throw as well, with two seconds left in the game, booked Iran a berth in the FIBA U19 World Championship for Men in New Zealand next year.
Syria had the opportunity to go ahead, and probably seal the issue, when Belal Gneed was fouled with 10 seconds left in the game. But Gneed converted only one of the free-throws and Mohammed Hasanzadeh collected the rebound and launched Emad Salmani on quick counter.
Salmani was fouled, but he missed both his attempts. Farman was at hand to grab the rebound and sink a basket and the rest as Iran coach Nebojsa Raicevic termed it “was history.”
Hasanzadeh put up a steady show with a game-high in points as well as rebounds. The 201cm center collected 24 boards to go with his 27 points.
Farman had 17 points and used his 207cm height to collect 16 rebounds.
The previous two meetings between these two teams had ended in a lop-sided result for Iran – by 26 points in the WABA qualifiers and 101-73 in the Group D preliminary round here.
“I think the boys were a little relaxed,” confessed Raicevic.
“Also there was tremendous pressure from everybody on the boys to deliver. So it was a mixture of complacency and at the same time enormous home pressure,” he added.
Iran attempted 24 times from behind the arc, but had only one three-pointer – Mohammad Amjad’s success in the third quarter the lone success.
“Yes. Our outside shooting was awful. But we struggled in Salmani’s absence,” Raicevic said.
Salmani committed four personal fouls in the first seven minutes and was used only for 15 more minutes over the next three quarters.
“What mattered was he got the foul which won us game,” Raicevic beamed.
Syria, written off by many, showed character and conviction in taking the fight to the hosts camp.
“I think we did very well in the game as well as the championship,” said Syria coach George Zedan.
“We came in looking for a top-6 finish, but we are in the top four. And nobody thought this game would be this close, but I had the confidence on my boys,” he said.
Iran out-rebounded Syria 66-39.
“Doesn’t it show we were at a height disadvantage,” Zedan said.
Scores
Iran 80 (Mohammed Hasanzadeh 27, Farbod Farman 17, Mehdi Shrijang 10) bt Syria 78 (Samer Bawadekji 22, Alaa Al Sebaay 15). Quarterwise Scores: 21-23, 44-38, 67-64.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia
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