IRAN will continue to miss one of its best players when it battles Gilas Pilipinas in next week’s FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Guard Sina Vahedi is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in the EASL Finals while playing for the New Taipei Kings.
As it is, the 6-foot-1 guard will miss the rest of the qualifiers including Iran’s August 30 showdown with the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Vahedi, 25, of course, is no stranger to Filipino basketball fans especially followers of the Meralco Bolts.
The Iranian served as the Bolts’ Asian heritage import in the last EASL season and averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists during his stint with the team, which unfortunately, didn’t translate into a first ever playoff stint for the Meralco franchise.
Following the ouster of the Bolts, the Taipei Kings signed him up for the playoffs in a brief appearance as he sustained the injury early in the first quarter of his debut against Utsunomiya Brex.
He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and physiotherapy after a successful surgery.
Vahedi, a Mythical Team member in last year’s FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia where Iran bagged the bronze medal, along with Mohammad Amini, and Behnam Yakhchali missed the third window last July held in Amman, Jordan.
Iran still dangerous
While Vahedi was injured, both the 6-foot-7 Amini and 6-foot-3 Yakhchali decided to skip the tournament owing to the political and social tensions surrounding Iran in its war with the US.
But even in their absence, the Iranians took care of business and routed Jordan, 67-49, and whipped Syria, 73-52, to hike its record to 5-1 for second place in Group E heading to the second round.
Going to the fourth window, Amini and Yakhchali have been listed as part of Iran’s 24-man pool that also includes standouts Arsalan Kazemi, Mohammad Jamshidi, and Matin Aghajanpour.
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