GILAS Pilipinas' monumental first act at the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup just missed out on a fairytale ending at the Philippine Arena on Friday.
READ: Gilas' brave stand against Dominican Republic falls just short
In front of a record-breaking 38,115-strong crowd, Karl-Anthony Towns and Dominican Republic escaped in the dying moments to deal the Filipino fans a heartbreak, 87-81, at home.
KAT dropped a staggering 26 points (15 free throws) and 10 rebounds to steer his side to a hard-fought victory.
With heroic showings across the board, Gilas came tantalizingly close to a historic upset. But as Jordan Clarkson (28 points) fouled out midway through the final frame, it all went downhill for the Philippines.
See how Filipino hoops fans reacted to a dramatic World Cup opener against Dominican Republic here:
Clarkson's highs and lows
Game of what-ifs
AJ shows the way
JMF's MVP showcase
'Tuloy ang laban!'
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