Gilas 5 coach Toroman wary of short-handed Iranians

GUANGZHOU — Even without Hamed Haddadi and an injured Samad Nikkah Bahrami, Iran remains a formidable team in the 16th Asian Games men’s basketball competition, according to PHL-Smart Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman. The Filipinos take on the reigning two-time Fiba Asia champion Iran at the start of the main draw of Group F at the Huangpu Gymnasium here Tuesday. The two teams collide at 9:30 p.m. with the Asian powerhouse squad missing two key personnel who were part of their successful campaign in the FIBA Asia Championship in 2007 and 2009. Haddadi, the 7-foot-3 slotman of the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA, wasn’t allowed by his mother team in the premier professional league to participate in the Asian Games. Bahrami remains a doubtful starter for Tuesday’s game due to a knee injury. “Despite not having Haddadi and missing the services of Bahrami, I think Iran remains a tough opponent," said Toroman. “We really have to play better against them because I know how strong that team is," added Toroman, who handled the team when it won the FIBA Asia Championship and gave Iran its first basketball Olympic Games stint in 2008 in Beijing. The Nationals had a two-hour workout Monday at the Guangti Gymnasium to polish their plays after struggling to beat Kuwait, 76-69, in their Group B match in the first round. Marcio Lassiter, JV Casio and Mac Baracael contributed off the bench for the Philippine team as the starters couldn’t get their games going. Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 forward, is a doubtful starter for the game against Iran due to a knee injury he suffered in the team’s exhibition game against the Dongguan Leopards. After Iran, the PHL team battles Qatar on Wednesday before taking a break. The Filipinos plunge back to action and face the Japanese on November 18. - RCJ/KY, GMANews.TV