The Iran Petrochimi edged the Japan Alvark Tokyo in the 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Finals, 68-64.

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Team Iran only brought eight players in the tournament but the magnificent 8 shown that they’re not undermanned as they swept all of their assignments up to the gold medal match.

Meisam Mirzaeitalarposhti was not so dominant in terms of scoring when team Iran played against the Philippines Meralco Bolts in their semi-final round a night ago but in the biggest stage of the tourney, the 6’10 center prove that he can play ball.

Mirzaeitalarposhti dropped 28 points along with his seven rebounds against the Japanese squad. Not only that he also clammped down Alvark Tokyo’s import Alex Kirk who is the number point of offense for Japan.

Kirk who averaged 26 points a game before entering the game was only held to just four points.

Daiki Tanaka who was later named as the 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Cup Most Valuable Player carried his team. He finished with 28 points.

During the last stretch, Japan tried to control the game and went to Kirk. However, the teethering defense of Iran inside the post is too much for Japan import as he is having hard time to operate inside.

With 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Daiki Tanaka launched a three-pointer which he converted and puts his team to a striking distance, 64-66.

In the next ball possession Japan made an intentional foul and sent Rouzbeh Arghavan to the free-throw line. In paper, Arghavan is a 50% free-throw shooter, it looks like team Japan made a wise decision.

Yet, Arghavan wanted to win the championship trophy and able to sank his two freebies and that also sealed the game.

Iran vs Japan Box Score

Petrochimi (68) – Mirzaeitalarposhti 28, Abadi 2, Mashayekhi 8, Yakhchalidehkordi 7, Kardoustpoustinsaraei 2, Naeini 9, Arghavan 12

Alvark Tokyo (64) – Kojima 5, Ando 9, Baba 4, Kikuchi 5, Takeuchi 2, Tanaka 28, Bjelica 7, Kirk 4