Game Photos. Game Details and Stats

BEIRUT, Lebanon (23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Twice former champions Mahram of Iran couldn’t have asked for a better start to their quest to regain the FIBA Asia Champions Cup than beating Mongolian debutants Energy Resources Falcons 121-66 in the Preliminary Round on Monday.

Each Mahram players got at least 10 minutes on the court, and seven of them scored in the double digits in a show of overall dominance by the Iranian giants.

“These are games we have to put away in the run up to the big game,” said Mahram spearhead Samad Bahrami (pic above), who led his team’s charge from the front with the competition’s first triple double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

Ten of those points and 6 each of those rebounds and assists came in the first quarter when Mahram perched themselves firmly in control of the proceedings.

“The important thing is we played hard. People might call these are easy games, but for us preparing for the season, these are all good games to get ourselves into rhythm,” Bahrami said.

Mahdi Kamrani too found his bearings early, shrugging off the axing from the Iranian National Team which won the gold medal at the 4th FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo (Japan) less than a month ago, marshalling his resources rather well.

“It’s good to get back into the groove with some good games,” Kamrani, who 13 points and 5 assists, said.

Commend must be made of Falcons, who held themselves in good esteem especially pitted against such a time-tested combination.

“We are looking at showing that Mongolian basketball has talent and potential. Defeats will come, but we know we need to take them in our stride and look for long term gains,” said Falcons coach Misha Amarjargal.

Battulga Nemekhbayar led Falcon’s campaign with 18 points.

FIBA Asia