Tall Iran runs over lackluster national team

San Miguel Beer-RP rammed into a taller, tougher Saba Battery-Iran and fell, 75-85, yesterday for its first loss in the FedEx FIBA-Asia Champions Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

From 45-55 down in the third quarter, the Nationals countered with a 10-0 blast to knot the count but the Iranians quickly regained control the rest of the way to complete a four-game sweep of Group A.

It was RP’s first loss in the tournament following a two-game streak that dropped it in a share of second spot with defending champion La Segasse-Lebanon, which blasted Tobol-Kazakhstan, 94-75, earlier.

RP and Lebanon collide today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City with the winner gaining the No. 2 seed and the loser No. 3 in the quarters. The fourth spot in the group will be contested by the Kazaks and the Indians, both winless at 0-3, today.

Fadi Khatib led all scorers with 30 points while former San Miguel import Stephen Howard had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Lebanese sealed a quarters entry with a 2-1 card.

It was the Kazaks’ third straight setback.

Al Rayyan-Qatar leaned on a balanced attack as it smashed Army-Syria, 79-54, to join idle Jordan atop Group B with three straight victories.

Former NBA veteran Todd Day and Khalid Sliman Abdi spearheaded the Qataris’ assault with 16 points apiece while Pervis Lee Pasco, Saad Abdul Rhaman Ali and Mohammed Seleem Abdulla scored 37 points among themselves that more than made up for the absence of Yaseen Ismail Mamoud.

The high-leaping Mamoud fractured a finger in their game against United Arab Emirates Monday and might sit it out the rest of the tournament.

The Syrians reeled to their third straight loss.

Kuwait, meanwhile, relied on Chudney Grey and Osamah Mubarak as it trounced Sarjah-United Arab Emirates, 81-74, to advance to the quarterfinals.

Grey had 25 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and five steals while Mubarak finished with 21 points. 11 boards, seven steals and six assists as the Kuwaitis posted their second victory in four games.

It was UAE’s third loss in a row. — Joey Villar