Reining Asian champion, National Team of Iran, which is at the same time one of the nine participants of the Olympic Games, suffered defeat in a friendly game against Croatia 79-101. Despite this 22 points defeat head coach of Team Iran, Rajko Toroman, was satisfied with the performance of his players.
'We played totally leveled second half against strong Croatia, what is very good sign for us. We came here to learn and to gain more experience before the Olympics.
Reining Asian champion, National Team of Iran, which is at the same time one of the nine participants of the Olympic Games, suffered defeat in a friendly game against Croatia 79-101. Despite this 22 points defeat head coach of Team Iran, Rajko Toroman, was satisfied with the performance of his players.
'We played totally leveled second half against strong Croatia, what is very good sign for us. We came here to learn and to gain more experience before the Olympics. I want to say that my team has a potential. They are fighters and I hope that this preparation period will help us to be an equal rival against teams like Croatia and even stronger' - said Toroman.
NT of Iran doesn't have a favourite role at the Olympic Games but it is not a problem for Toroman's team.
'We really do not have any bigger targets or imperatives in China. For sure we will try to play as best as we can and I hope we will be dangerous rival against much stronger teams in Peking. Our main goal is World Championship in Turkey 2010 where this young team will be much powerful than this summer. As a part of that program we will play 25 games against much better rivals. It will be a precious experience to my players because they competes in Iranian championship and they need international experience' - said Rajko Toroman.
NT of Iran suffered a huge lost as its best player Aidin Nikkhaha Bahrami passed away in car accident in 2007.
'Aidin was a key player of our Narional Team. He was real go-to guy who was able to create a good position and a basket on his own. It is extremely big loss for us and we still do not have a replacement for him' - said Toroman. Interview taken and translated from kosarka.hr
Australia - Iran 88:65
Australian National team grabbed their third straight victory over visiting Iran at the Boomers World Challenge friendly series. The third game took place at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne. Australia once again dominated right from the start. Joe Ingles, Chris Anstey (213-C-75) and David Barlow put the hosts in charge 8:2 early on. The Boomers kept Iran at bay throughout the starting term and finalized it at 29:13 advantage.
Australia - Iran 88:65
Australian National team grabbed their third straight victory over visiting Iran at the Boomers World Challenge friendly series. The third game took place at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne. Australia once again dominated right from the start. Joe Ingles, Chris Anstey (213-C-75) and David Barlow put the hosts in charge 8:2 early on. The Boomers kept Iran at bay throughout the starting term and finalized it at 29:13 advantage. Iran got back into contest through the bunch of tree-point bombs early in the second period. Samad Bahramai and Hamed Afagh (191-G-83) went deadly from beyond the arc and Iranian team cut the deficit to 10 points. Oshin Sahakian capped the second period with a jumper for Iran to trail by 8 points at halftime 33:41. Hamed Afagh cut the distance to 7 points early in the second half but the Boomers defense worked smoothly keeping it at safe side for the hosts. Australia enjoyed an 11-point buffer heading into the final stanza. Mark Worthington (202-F-83, college: Metro St.) and Chris Anstey hit back-to-back trebles for the Boomers to stretch the gap to 16 points in the fourth term. Iran never recovered and suffered yet another defeat on Australian soil. Mark Worthington provided 24 points and 12 boards to lead the Boomers. Chris Anstey had 12 points, while Wade Helliwell (212-C-79, college: Charlotte) added 9 for the winners. Samad Bahrami (200-F/G-83, agency: Huss Sport Agency) answered with 24 points and 6 boards for Iran. Hamed Afagh came up with 13 points in a loss. Australia limited Hamed Hadadi (218-C-85, agency: Huss Sport Agency) to just 8 points and 7 boards. Iran once again outrebounded their opponents 40:38 but shot just 30% from the field. The hosts meanwhile knocked down 44% of field goals and committed just 10 turnovers down the stretch.
Australia - Iran 97:53
Australia extended their winning streak against Iran to two games thumping them in Adelaide today. CJ Bruton (188-G-75, college: Indian Hills CC) and Patrick Mills (178-G-88) led the charge for the Boomers as they grabbed a 2-0 lead in the three-game friendly series against the Asian powerhouse. Patrick Mills scored 17 points to lead the hosts to an impressive victory. CJ Bruton was helpful with 15 points.
Australia - Iran 97:53
Australia extended their winning streak against Iran to two games thumping them in Adelaide today. CJ Bruton (188-G-75, college: Indian Hills CC) and Patrick Mills (178-G-88) led the charge for the Boomers as they grabbed a 2-0 lead in the three-game friendly series against the Asian powerhouse. Patrick Mills scored 17 points to lead the hosts to an impressive victory. CJ Bruton was helpful with 15 points. Iran had a woeful shooting night as they knocked down just 28% from the field. They missed their first eleven shots allowing Australia to run away to a safe distance. The Boomers held to a comfortable 20:7 advantage at the first intermission. The home team opened the third frame on a 10:2 run to keep the pressure growing. CJ Bruton capped the first half with a three-pointer and the Boomers built a 50:20 lead at the interval. Australia were untamed in the third period as they stretched the margin to as many as 45 points. Iran finally outgunned the hosts by one point in the final term but hardly received any consolation about the fact. Glen Saville (197-G/F-76) added 14 points for the winners. Hamed Hadadi (218-C-85, agency: Huss Sport Agency) led all scorers with 18 points and 10 boards for the visitors. Samad Bahrami (200-F/G-83, agency: Huss Sport Agency) contributed 14 points in defeat. Australia improved their game in the paint as they outrebounded Iranian team 38:30. The teams will play again on Friday.
Iran coach Rajko Toroman believes the three-match series with Australia will help his side get invaluable experience as it looks towards the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Asian champion Iran may have been outclassed 87-68 by an undermanned Boomers side missing several international stars on Monday night, but Toroman feels his young players were exposed to some big game pressure and an impressive tactical performance from the mostly NBL-based Australian team.
Iran coach Rajko Toroman believes the three-match series with Australia will help his side get invaluable experience as it looks towards the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Asian champion Iran may have been outclassed 87-68 by an undermanned Boomers side missing several international stars on Monday night, but Toroman feels his young players were exposed to some big game pressure and an impressive tactical performance from the mostly NBL-based Australian team.
But, while he is glad to be at the Olympics, where Iran faces Australia once again, Toroman feels that earning a medal may be beyond his team, although he feels the overall experience from the series and Beijing will give the Iranians a shot at gold in Turkey.
'This is a real team, they need time and they need some games like we play today to improve themselves,' said Toroman.
'We are without any experience. Our players are not international players, they are playing only in Iran. We will go and play everywhere where it is possible to play.'
'We don't have too much expectations for the Olympic games. We are just going, playing the game and getting some tactical experience that can help our players.'
'But anyway, I have to be satisfied in the game because I think it was the most difficult game (we have played) in one and a half years, that I was the coach of this team and to be a little bit competitive in a first game means too much for us.'
Toroman and his captain Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami also felt the players learned a lot simply by coping with the noisy crowd at Perth's Challenge Stadium, feeling his side was overwhelmed early on allowing Australia to grab a 17-7 lead during the first five minutes that was never threatened.
'This crowd and these fans come to the game for us, it's a new thing in Iran, they don't come to the game like that. (It) is a new thing and a new experience for us to play in front of these fans,' declared Bahrami.
'I think our players were a little bit afraid of the atmosphere,' added Toroman.
'Of the quality of these players (that they) had on the court and this was the reason why some of them didn't show themselves on the right way,' said Toroman.
One of the players looking overwhelmed was giant centre Hamed Hadadi, who stands at 217cm. Hadadi may have scored 31 points against Lebanon in the Asian champions final but he air-balled his first shot and looked lethargic before letting rip in the final quarter, scoring 11 of his 23 points while pulling down 11 rebounds overall.
'Now he (Hadadi) is not physically in a good shape and that's his problem,' said Toroman, adding that leading scorers Hadadi and Bahrami (20 points) had not been training with the team until a fortnight ago due to club commitments.
'Sometimes he's (Hadadi) tired, makes some mistake, he's not concentrating ... because he is not physically in a good shape.'
'(But) Hadadi is really high level player ... let's say 23 points, 11 rebounds, it's an impressive statistic for him ... (and) he will, in one month, be in really good shape.'
The veteran Serbian coach only took over the world No.32 last year but was previously involved in a golden basketball age for his country when it was previously Yugoslavia.
Courtesy Sportal (Paul Barbieri)
Australia fires down Iran in friendly series opener
Australia - Iran 87:68
Australian National team continued their build up before the Olympic Games basketball tournament as they hosted Iran in the friendly series opener. The game took place at the Challenge Stadium in Perth. Brian Goorjian introduced some new faces to the Boomers squad. The 19-year-old centre O.J. Ogilvy was presented with a debut appearance for the Australian National team on his birthday.
Australia - Iran 87:68
Australian National team continued their build up before the Olympic Games basketball tournament as they hosted Iran in the friendly series opener. The game took place at the Challenge Stadium in Perth. Brian Goorjian introduced some new faces to the Boomers squad. The 19-year-old centre O.J. Ogilvy was presented with a debut appearance for the Australian National team on his birthday. Guard James Harvey and forward Shawn Redhage (202-F-81, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Arizona St.) were also invited to join a 12-men roster for the upcoming friendly series. Darnell Mee injured his elbow prior to the game and was substituted by young talent Joe Ingles on the squad. The Boomers got to a quick start as David Barlow (205-F-83, college: Metro St.) nailed back-to-back three-pointers to put the hosts ahead. Australia dominated in the early minutes and another trey from David Barlow opened a double-digit lead for the hosts at 17:7. Chris Anstey and Shawn Redhage added two more trebles to stretch the lead to as many as 12 points. But Samad Bahrami (200-F/G-83, agency: Huss Sport Agency) and Hamed Afagh cut the deficit as the visitors trailed 22:33 at the end of the first stanza. Joe Ingles accounted for 3 points and Shawn Redhage came up with 5 more as Australia widened the gap to 17 points. Hamed Hadadi (218-C-85, agency: Huss Sport Agency) and Eman Zandi answered with jumpers to keep Iran within surmountable distance. Hamed Hadadi capped the second frame with a free throw and Iranian team were down by 12 points at the interval. Babak Paknejad narrowed the deficit to 10 points early in the third frame but it was as close as the Asian team could get. CJ Bruton (188-G-75, college: Indian Hills CC) and Patrick Mills (178-G-88) restored a safe 15-point cushion for the home side. Shawn Redhage crowned the third period with a
