Taipei, July 16 (CNA) Defending champion Iran and Lebanon are the only undefeated teams left among seven entrants after three days in the William Jones Cup, Taiwan's most popular international hoop event.
Lebanon beat host Taiwan's national team 93-84 and Iran beat Japan 81-68 Friday to keep both West Asian teams ranked atop the standings in the single round robin men's tournament, which is taking place in Taipei from July 14-20.
Taiwan opened the game with a brilliant 29-18 first quarter but with only one player taller than 2 meters, it was eventually worn down by Lebanon's towering front line.
Lebanon hit the offensive boards and ignited a 23-6 run in the second half for a double-digit lead with just over four minutes to go in the game.
Almost half of Taiwan's national team players -- and four-fifths of its starting lineup -- are sitting out the tournament due to injuries to rehab for the upcoming Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou, China in November.
Sharp shooter Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami had 34 points for Iran in its hard-fought win. Japan's Takuya Kawamura had 25 points and Yuta Tabuse added 20.
Marcus Douthit, an American-born naturalized 2.11-meter center, had 17 points and 13 rebounds and led the Philippines to a 90-64 victory over the Townsville Crocodiles of Australia, which remained winless after three games.
Taiwan national team and Korea's Sinsegae Coolcat are leading the four-team women's competition, which will have a cross-over semifinal after a single round robin preliminary round.
The Jones Cup started in 1977 as an invitational tourney featuring national teams, club teams and university teams mainly from the Asian region. It was named after Renato William Jones, one of the founders and former secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Men's standings:
Iran 2-0
Lebanon 2-0
Taiwan 2-1
Philippines 2-1
Japan 1-2
Taiwan University All-Stars 0-2
Australia Crocodiles 0-3
Women's standings:
Taiwan 2-0
Korea 2-0
Taiwan University All-Stars 0-2
Kazakhstan 0-2
(By Chris Wang) enditem/ls