Metro Manila, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas overcame an early deficit to defeat Iran, 68-56, and complete a sweep in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory allowed Gilas to improve to a 4-4 record and kept the Philippines firmly in contention for a top-three finish in Group E and automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liano paced the Philippines in scoring with 16 points apiece.
Kai Sotto once again made his presence felt on both ends of the court, finishing with another double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds.
After trailing by as many as 13 points in the first quarter, the nationals were able to take a 36-34 lead at halftime.
In what marked his final game for the national team, June Mar Fajardo provided a spark off the bench, scoring all six of his points during Gilas’ second-quarter run.
The victory moved the Philippines within one win of both Jordan and Iran in Group E. Only the top three teams in the group will earn automatic qualification for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
