The loss relegated the Nationals to a battle for third place against the loser of the Lebanon-Qatar semifinal.
Smart Gilas, priming up for the FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier in September in Wuhan, China, succeeded in averting a potential blowout loss and may have put the fear on the Iranians when they came within 77-75 on Chris Tiu’s 3-point shot with 19.5 seconds left.
Forward Nikkah Bahrami split his free throws and JV Casio cut the deficit to 78-77 on a driving layup. The Nationals gave up a quick foul on Bahrami but this time the Iranian hit both to make it a three-point game.
Gilas got off two 3-pointers — by Mark Barroca and Marcio Lassiter – but both bounced high on the iron before the buzzer.
Pounding the ball inside at will, Iran took the half, 45-39, shooting 56 percent to Gilas’ 49 percent and going to foul line 10 more times for nine points.
Douthit outdueled fellow 7-footer Cheikh Samb, 15 points to six, but Iran’s other import Christopher Williams wrecked havoc on Gilas’ defense with 14 points on 6 of 10 from the floor.
The Nationals had their biggest moment in the first half when they opened a 25-20 advantage which ignited the crowd. But the Iranians quickly closed the gap behind Williams, point guard Mahdi Kamrani and forward Bahrami.
No other Gilas player had more than six points in the first 24 minutes where the Nationals 18 of 35 shots and took just three free throws, a testament to the imposing blockade Iran set up in the middle.
Syria, barely a shell of its dominant form before its quarterfinal loss to Smart Gilas, meanwhile, came up with just enough effort to beat Saudi Arabia, 85-77, and set up a meeting with Jordan for fifth place.
Jordan downed Iraq, 98-90, enduring some anxious moments before posting the win.
Iraq held a 69-67 edge going to the fourth quarter but couldn’t sustain the momentum as CJ Giles, the Jordanian import who once suited up for Smart Gilas, scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a no-relief job.
Reduced to fighting for the spoils after tough losses two days ago, the Syrians and the Jordanians clash at 2 p.m. Sunday after the 12 noon match pitting Saudi Arabia and Iraq for seventh place.
Syria fell to Smart Gilas, 85-80, after blowing a 15-point first half lead, while Jordan bowed to Qatar, the 2005 champion, 83-77.
Wissam Yakoub led Syria with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcelle Yaqqub and Sari Papasian added 16 points apiece, staying away from the foul trouble that plagued them against the Philippines.
Their value to Syria during that all-important game with the Nationals, especially in the fourth quarter where Marcus Douthit, JV Casio and Mac Baracael struck the hardest, was made even more pronounced by their production against the Saudis.
