TEHRAN, Iran—The Nokia-RP Youth team capped its Tehran stint with a 74-63 victory over Lebanon yesterday at the Azadi Stadium to finish seventh in the Fiba-Asia Championship for junior men.

Matthew Wright, Mark De Guzman and Ryan Roose Garcia combined to help the Philippines seal the victory.

The Filipino-Canadian Wright nailed a three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining and Garcia sank the marginal free throws off a steal and a Lebanon turnover to help the country match its 1998 finish.

De Guzman kept the Lebanese from taking control by mounting a series of fast-break plays with Garcia and joining hands with Norberto Torres in the shaded lane at a time when both teams were busy trading baskets in the fourth period.

The only other time the country finish worse than seventh was in 2004, when it placed 13th.

The Philippines did not join the 2000, 2002 and 2006 editions of the annual tournament. The Philippines has won the event six times, finished second twice and third thrice.

In the championship game, Iran reclaimed the crown it won in 2004 when the host country drubbed Kazakhstan, 95-76, while Syria completed the cast of Asian teams to the Fiba World U19 Championships in New Zealand next year with a 93-86 win over Japan in the bronze-medal game.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 74—De Guzman 15, Garcia 14, Wright 11, Mendoza 10, Torres 7, Sangalang 7, Tolentino 6, Banal 4.

LEBANON 63—Ibrahim 14, Akl 10, Maatouk 10, El Haber 9, Zaloum 6, Aoun 6, Nader 3, El Khouri 2, El Nar 2, Kabbara 1.

Quarters: 17-18, 40-34, 52-48, 74-63

June Navarro