TEHRAN - Defending champion Mahram defeated Al-Jalaa of Syria in the first day of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

The Iranian representative beat Al-Jalaa 86-59 At the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig, the Philippines.
“It looked a lot easier than it actually was. We are just coming off a long and tiring season in Iran. And add it to the travel and differing conditions, I am really happy to start with a win,” said Mehran Shahintab, who made a comeback of sorts into the FIBA Asia Champions Cup competition.
Shahintab was the coach of the Saba Battery team which won back-to-back titles in FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2007 and 2008 before Mostafa Hashemi coached Mahram for the triumphs in 2009-10.
Mahram has been drawn in Pool B along with Al Shabab of the UAE, last year's finalists Al Rayyan of Qatar as well as WABA heavyweights Al Riyadi of Lebanon and Syria's Al Jalaa. The Iranian team is scheduled to play Al Shabab on Sunday.
Pool A consists of KL Dragons of Malaysia, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, Smart Gilas of the Philippines, Duhok Sports Club of Iraq and Jordan’s ASU Sports.
The four best teams from each group advance to the Final Round with the top two survivors will play in a one-game final for the Champions Cup.
Iran actually won the last four editions of the events that began in 1981 in Hong Kong, with Sabah Battery of Tehran bagging the titles in 2007 and 2008, before Mahram did its share in 2009 and 2010, respectively