GILAS Pilipinas finally picked up a victory - an important one - in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, beating Iraq, 66-57, on Saturday night at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Nationals went on a 22-7 third quarter to pull away for good and finish the group stage with a 1-2 win-loss record.
More importantly, Gilas Pilipinas extended its campaign in the Asia Cup, earning the right to play in the qualification to the quarterfinals after finishing third in Group D.
Dwight Ramos led the way for Gilas Pilipinas with 21 points, surviving the shooting woes of leading scorer Justin Brownlee, and the three-point shooting of Iraq in the first half where they shot 6-of-13 in the first half.
Gilas will face the second-placer of Group C being contested by Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
The win was a relief for Gilas Pilipinas, which faced a must-win game to stay alive in the competition after losing to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand to open the contest.
Brownlee only had nine points, a far cry from 28 per game prior to the contest, and had just one in the first half. The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player ended up with 3-of-12 from the field after going 0-of-6 in the first half.
Despite his shooting struggles, Brownlee contributed in other ways, hauling seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
AJ Edu had nine points and seven rebounds, and was a force on defense with three steals, and two blocks for Gilas Pilipinas in the win.
Ramos had back-to-back threes, and Brownlee also hit one during an 11-2 start to the fourth period for a 44-35 lead. Gilas eventually had a 55-40 advantage entering the fourth.
Iraq was able to trim the gap to 57-50, but a three by Calvin Oftana and a Brownlee basket got Gilas back in control. Oftana, however, sprained his ankle shortly after that mini-run.
The Iraqis were dropping their three-pointers, which enabled them to grab an 11-6 lead to start the game. The game was tied at 33 at the half, but it was not enough as Iraq has been ousted from the competition after an 0-3 win-loss record in Group D.
The scores:
Philippines 66 – Ramos 21, Edu 9, Brownlee 8, Tamayo 6, Fajardo 6, Newsome 4, Quiambao 4, Perez 3, Oftana 3, Aguilar 2, Thompson 0.
Iraq 57 – Hammoodi 13, Ismael 3, Mayfield 12, Al-Zuhairi 8, Abdullah 5, Al-Khafaji 4, Alibraheemi 2, Abbas 0, Al-Musawi 0, Alqarnawi 0, Abdul Allah 0.
Quarters: 12-18; 33-33; 55-40; 66-57
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
