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Iran vs. Philippines
It was a game won BY iran because of confidence, experience, and amateur rules know-how.
Team Pilipinas was unable to shake off the tension in their first ever-real international game in a long time, and shot a miserable 14% in 2-point field goal, in the first half, and 15% at the second half, and helped Iran with the 75-69 win.

Iran looked the mightier and surer team and led the ball game all the way to the final buzzer. Team Pilipinas did not go down without a fight, and went to Kirby Raymundo, who single handedly, made a ball game out of Team Pilipinas’ nightmarish debut. Mick Pinisi chipped in with 2 straight 3-point shots in the fourth quarter and Jimmy Alapag added one, during Team Pilipinas last two minutes rally. Team Pilipinas was smelling an upset but with 57. 1 seconds remaining in the ball game, and the score at 69-68 for Iran, a technical foul was slapped on Coach Chot Reyes of Team Pilipinas. It gave Iran 2 free throws and ball possesion. Iran went on to register a win, together with Jordan, in the “Group of Death”, Olympic qualifier, FIBA-Asia Mens Championship in Tokushima, Japan.

Tomorrow is an all-important/must-win ball game for Team Pilipinas in order to salvage the second spot, that they are targeting, in Group A. The casualties were Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag who suffered, hopefully, just mild sprains and also Danny Seigle, who went down with cramps.

Images from the game