Not even the absence of 7 - footer Hamed Ehadadi of Iran could help Gilas Pilipinas to get a share of the top spot as they slid down to 4 - 3. Meanwhile, Iran, the leader of the Group F in the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers improves to 6 - 1.
It was a nip and tuck battle through the first three quarters until the Iranians mounted an 11-point run that put them for good, 77 - 66 in the fouth quarter.
Christian Standhardinger, who replaced Andray Blatche after the latter's suspension, paced for the Gilas Pilipinas with 30 points and 12 rebounds but his double- double performance is not enough.
Gilas Pilipinas returns home to face Qatar on Monday, September 17, at the Araneta Coliseum.