ALLAN THE MAN

The Philippines missed the outright berth to the 2016 Summer Olympics and will instead be relegated to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening in 2016 from July 5 to 16. That qualifying tournament will have 18 national teams from FIBA’s primary events divided into 3 competitions of 6. The winner from each tilt will qualify for Rio 2016.

Samad Nikkah Bahrami an overwhelming choice as Asia’s best small forward will make his debut in the high-profile Chinese Basketball Association league this year after Iranian spearhead signed with Fujian as its Asian import.

Zaid Abbas of the neighboring Jordan has already signed with Tianjin, making Bahrami the second high profile Asian signing in the CBA this year. Each of the lower ranked teams are eligible to sign an additional Asian import apart from the regular two import rule in the CBA.

Iran won its third FIBA Asia Men's Basketball crown on Sunday night but had to face a determined Gilas Pilipinas squad in the championship game at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Iran wound up winning 85-71 but faced several tense moments, especially in the first half as Gilas, despite playing without center Marcus Douthit, managed to remain within striking distance.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team battled gallantly before succumbing to basketball powerhouse Iran, 85-71, in the title game of the FIBA Asia Championship.

Gilas Pilipinas had to settle for a silver medal, the country’s best finish since winning the Asian title in 1985.

WATCH 'Gilas Pilipinas vs Iran Full Game Replay' BELOW:

Goliath beats David. Iran proved to be too big for Gilas Pilipinas to conquer as the West Asian nation downed the home team, 85-71, to win the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship gold medal on Sunday night, August 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Iranians went to veteran big man Hamed Haddadi often and were successful in taking the title for the 3rd time in the last 4 editions of the biennial meet.

Gilas Pilipinas has already achieved its goal of qualifying in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, but the national team is still dreaming of reaching even greater heights in the 27th FIBA Asia Basketball Championships.

Gilas outlasted rivals South Korea, 86-79, in their semi-final tussle to clinch a spot in the World Cup in Spain next year. They also advance to face tournament favorites Iran in the championship game.

FIBA Asia Championship 2013 for Men is the intercontinental championship for basketball organized by FIBA Asia that serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

This time, Iran made sure there would be no magical comeback from Chinese Taipei.

Behind the brilliant quarterbacking of Mahdi Kamrani, Iran cruised to a 79-60 victory over Chinese Taipei in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Championship on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

But two-time champion Iran didn't seem to think so, completing a sweep with an impressive 70-51 victory over defending titlist China on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With ailing Chinese star Yi Jianlian sitting out, the Persians pounced early, taking a 26-15 lead in the first quarter before finishing the half with a 41-24 edge. Iran controlled the game throughout behind a balanced effort that saw four players score in double figures.

After an upset of defending champion China on the first day of the FIBA Asia Championship, South Korea was hoping for a similar result against another powerhouse Iran.

Persian superstars Hamed Haddadi and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, however, had other ideas. Former NBA center Haddadi scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while scoring ace Bahrami added 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to lead Iran to a 76-65 victory over South Korea in their Group C match up.

Iran has won two of the last three FIBA Asia Championship tournaments, and coach Memi Becirovic is not bashful about his team’s chances in the 2013 edition of the competition.

“We are going to win the title but five or six other teams want to do that,” the Slovenian coach told the Tehran Times before the team’s departure for Manila on Sunday.

Is height truly might? China and Iran, tabbed by observers as the top contenders for the title in the FIBA Asia Championship, boast of the tallest lineups in the tournament when it comes to listed heights.

According to a post on the tournament’s official website, the defending champion Chinese team, bannered by three 7-footers including former NBA forward Yi Jianlian, boast of an average height of 201.92cm, or about 6 feet, 7 1/2 inches.

Fresh from a whirlwind scouting trip that took him to two Asian countries, Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach Norman Black has listed defending champion China, Iran, and South Korea as the three teams to beat in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in two weeks' time.

The multi-titled coach travelled all the way to Guangzhou, China for the Fiba Stankovic Cup, primarily to take a closer look at the Chinese team under renowned former Greek national coach Panagiotis Giannakis.

Iran further underscored it’s among the teams to beat in the coming 27th FIBA Asia Championship after reclaiming the crown in the 2013 William Jones Cup in Taipei Saturday.

Hamed Haddadi powered his way to 17 points and 11 rebounds while Oskin Sahakian put in 14 markers as Iran whipped Chinese Taipei, 72-67, to clinch the championship with one play date left in the single-round-robin tourney.