Bahrain’s historic Asiad run ends

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s best Asian Games basketball campaign came to an end following a hard-fought 79-74 quarter-final loss to Iran at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, yesterday.

By reaching the last eight for the first time, the kingdom secured their best result across six Asian Games appearances.

The nationals fought back from nine points down at half-time and briefly moved ahead in the closing minutes, but Mohammad Jamshidi took over late to send Team Melli into the semi-finals.

The Iranians led 21-17 after the opening quarter and repeated that score in the second to take a 43-34 advantage into the break.

Slobodan Subotic’s side returned with greater energy and began cutting into the deficit behind Mustafa Hussain, Elijah Thomas and JaKarr Sampson.

Thomas scored eight points during the third quarter as the Reds won the period 21-17 and reduced the gap to five at 60-55.

Iran initially pushed their lead back to seven in the fourth, but Mustafa responded by sparking an 8-0 run.

He knocked down a three-pointer before Sampson connected from beyond the arc. Mustafa then came up with a steal and raced down the floor for the basket that put his team ahead 69-68 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as back-to-back threes from Arman Zanganeh and Jamshidi swung the momentum the other way.

Mustafa kept the contest alive by answering with another three before driving to the basket to tie the game at 74-74 with 71 seconds left.

Jamshidi responded on the next possession, scoring through contact and adding the free throw to complete a three-point play.

A late turnover and missed three-point attempt then ended the comeback before Jamshidi made two free throws to close out the game.

For the Bahrainis, Mustafa finished with a double-double of 26 points and 12 assists. He also recorded three steals and made six three-pointers.

Thomas added 24 points, while Sampson scored 18. Jamshidi led Iran with 20, followed by Mohammad Heydari with 19 and Zanganeh with 11.

Iran’s work on the boards and production from the bench also hurt Subotic’s men. They grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to four and scored 19 second-chance points. Their reserves outscored Bahrain’s 40-4, with Ahmed Haji supplying all four points off the bench.

The historic campaign included Group C victories over defending champions the Philippines, 89-85, and Kazakhstan, 101-78. Their only preliminary-round defeat came against China.

Iran will face South Korea in Friday’s first semi-final at 10am after the Koreans beat Jordan 114-80. China, who defeated Saudi Arabia 87-78, will then meet hosts Japan at 1.20pm following their 85-78 victory over Chinese Taipei. Both times are Bahrain. The medal games will take place on Sunday.