August 10, 2025 | 12:00am
Beats Iraq, stays in quarterfinal race
MANILA, Philippines — Nonetheless in enterprise.
Embattled Gilas Pilipinas lastly put collectively a profitable efficiency within the FIBA Asia Cup, beating Iraq, 66-57, to maintain the door to the quarterfinal spherical open yesterday on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis in Jeddah.
And the Nationals pulled off the lifesaving consequence on the heels of heartbreaking losses to outdated tormentors Chinese language-Taipei (87-95) and New Zealand (86-94) amid Justin Brownlee’s uncharacteristic offensive struggles within the win-or-go-home mid-afternoon Group D sport.
Dwight Ramos rifled in 21 factors spiked by three booming triples as he took over the primary gunner chores with Brownlee throwing bricks (3-of-12 subject objectives) and ending with a meager eight after his 37-point eruption two nights earlier than.
The nine-point victory over the Iraqis (0-3) was a balm for the Nationals’ bruised satisfaction.
However extra importantly, it vaulted the troops of coach Tim Cone (1-2) into Monday’s qualification for the quarterfinals stage as Group D’s third-ranked squad.
The Pinoy dribblers will play the No. 2 of Group C, both host Saudi Arabia or Jordan, in a KO for a spot within the Final 8 in opposition to Group A topnotcher Australia.
“It’s an enormous win for us. Any win at this level goes to be large as a result of we have to get a win on our belt to kinda rekindle our confidence,” stated Cone.
“So we’re completely satisfied to be shifting on, we all know the street’s going to be robust, we picked a more durable street to go however we’re prepared to just accept that problem.”
It wasn’t a clean experience to that lengthy sought-for win.
Iraq got here out of opening tip firing and took an 18-12 lead early as Brownlee went scoreless. After catching up with the Iraqis within the second, Gilas ripped the sport aside with a 22-7 salvo led by Ramos’ nine-point spree within the third, giving the Filipinos sufficient momentum to convey this one house.