GILAS Pilipinas will have to go through home team Saudi Arabia in its bid to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah.
This, after the hosts finished with a 2-1 record and claimed the second-seed in Group C by blowing out India, 84-59, early Sunday morning (Philippine time) at the King Abdullah Sports Center in Saudi Arabia.
READ: Gilas finally gets one, beats Iraq to stay alive in FIBA Asia Cup
Their knockout qualification to the quarterfinals clash is set on Monday, with the time yet to be announced by FIBA. Winner gets the unenviable task of facing world number seven Australia, winners of the last two Asia Cups, in the quarterfinals.
Mohammed Alsuwailem had a big double-double for the hosts as he finished with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while hauling down 14 big boards. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Gilas and Saudi will be clashing from two different trajectories.
The hosts have been the surprise of the tournament - giving China a scare in their opener, before shocking Jordan 77-73 to put themselves in a good position to claim the second-seed -- which they did in routing India.
Gilas, on the other hand, is having a tumultuous FIBA Asia Cup campaign so far - dropping its first two games to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand before banking on a huge third quarter to beat Iraq and stay in the running in the tournament.
Gilas fans can only hope that the win over Iraq would be the boost the team needs to get its act together against the confident hosts on Monday.
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