TIANJIN (FIBA Asia Championship) - Memphis Grizzlies centre Hamed EHadadi struck a purple patch early in the game and defending champions Iran wore Japan out before recording a 101-71 win in a Group E eight-final round game on Monday.

EHadadi launched an early offensive in the game scattering the Japanese defence from which the East Asian nation struggled to recover.

The 218-cm centre returned a mind-boggling 80% field record – converting four of his five field attempts, including a basket-burning three-pointer at the shot of the first quarter buzzer – to score 12 points in the first quarter.

EHadadi collected four of his game-high 15 rebounds and effected an assist in the first quarter and Iran rode to a whopping 15-point lead to end the first quarter. A lead that only swelled as the game progressed.

“He is beginning to play the way he’s known to play and the way we want him to play,” Iran coach Veselin Matic said of EHadadi.

EHadadi eventually finished with 22 points sharing the scoring honours for the game with Samad Nikkah.

Samad, who scored eight points in that first quarter flurry, was as crafty as every in a 7/11 field record, including converting two of his four three-pointer attempts.

Samad also effected a game-high six assists.

“As a team we are definitely getting better. We are not yet at our best, but we are getting there,” Matic said.

Mahdi Kamrani failed with both his three-pointer attempts, but sank six of his seven two-pointers for 16 points.

Kosuke Takeuchi almost ploughed a lone furrow for Japan – with 19 points and six boards.

“We managed to remain together early. But one turnover opened the game in their favour,” Japan coach Osamu Kurashi said.

“And against a powerful opposition like Iran, it’s difficult to recover from even the smallest of mistakes,” Kurashi said.

Japan need to win both their remaining games – against Kuwait on the morrow and Chinese Taipei on Wednesday – to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia

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