Bolts bow to Iranians, drop to fight for third

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco fired blanks at the finish and dropped a 74-79 loss to Petrochimi in their semifinal matchup in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand last night.

The Bolts dragged the tall, rugged Iran team to a battle of nerves but made only a single basket in the last two minutes of the game, thus, going down to a sorry loss that relegated them to the fight for third place versus the loser of the SK Knights-Alvark Tokyo match.

Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi sizzled with 29 points and himself made the key baskets giving Iran a 77-72 lead with time down to 38 seconds.

The Bolts made it a one-possession game on two free throws by Anjo Caram, but the Iranians won’t be denied as Farid Aslani also canned in a crucial pair of charities in the last 22 seconds.

Behind Allen Durham, Diamond Stone and Garvo Lanete, the Bolts engaged the Iranians to a nip-and-tuck battle through the first three quarters.

Meralco was even ahead in each of the first three quarters at 18-16, 34-33 and 55-54.

Petrochimi, however, made a decisive attack midway through the final canto and held on to give Iran a shot at reclaiming the Champions Cup crown it last won in 2013 in Ammam, Jordan courtesy of Foolad Mahan.

Iran had earlier title runs in 2007 and 2008 by Saba Battery and in 2009 and 2010 by Mahran.

Durham produced 27 points and 11 rebounds while Stone added 15 but failed to draw the needed support from the locals as in their previous losses to Mono Vampire and Alvark Tokyo.

The scores:

Iran 79 – Yakhchalidehkordi 29, Mashayekhi 15, Kardoust 10, Pazrofteh 7, Mirzaeitalarposhti 6, Kazemi 6, Aslani 5, Arghavan 1.

Meralco 74 – Durham 27, Stone 15, Lanete 12, Tolomia 9, Amer 5, Hugnatan 4, Atkins 2, Canaleta 0, Caram 0.

Quarterscores: 16-18, 33-34, 54-55, 79-74