Iran proved they could be able to contend for a medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games men's basketball when they trounced Qatar 88-46 Monday night, making it to the top two in Group F.

Iran, which won the Asian championship last year, recorded 4-1 in all five group games, but if Japan could beat win-less India late Monday, Iran will rank after Japan for their 57-56 loss to Japan last Wednesday.

Iran looked well-prepared against Qatar, the silver medalists in Doha Games, from the opening quarter as they built a 27-10 lead entering the second quarter.

Iran, playing without their tower center and NBA player Hamed Ehadadi, enlarged their advantage to 35 points at the end of the third quarter, which was 51-26.

Hamed Afagh shot six 3-pointers and led Iran four players to score double-figure with a game-high 33 points. Guard Mahdi Kamrani added 21 and 5 assists for Iran, which out-rebounded Qatar 41-24 and shot 53 percent to Qatar's 30 percent.

Qatar had two players who scored double-digit with Yaseen Musa 18 and Alba Ngombo 13.

If Iran were after Japan in Group F, they face third place finishers Jordan from Group E in Wednesday's quarterfinals, while Japan, if they finally win over India, play the winners of the game between Chinese Taipei and the Philippines, which will be decided late Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2010)