Gilas Pilipinas did not make it easy, but the Nationals finished the job. Trailing by double digits in the first quarter and scrapping back all night, the Philippines pulled away late to beat Iran, 68-56, and sweep the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in front of a home crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
A comeback that started slow
For the second straight game, Gilas dug itself out of an early hole. Iran raced to an 18-5 lead before the Nationals steadied themselves, closing the first half ahead and seizing control with a run midway through the fourth quarter.
Dwight Ramos paced Gilas with 16 points, while Juan Gomez de Liano, Kai Sotto, and Ramos powered the decisive pullaway that buried the visiting side.
Who stepped up
- Dwight Ramos: 16 points, the team high, including the key baskets in the fourth.
- Juan Gomez de Liano: hit the triples that kept Gilas within striking distance.
- Kai Sotto: anchor on the boards and in the paint, part of the trio that carried the scoring load.
- Justin Arana: made his Gilas debut in place of the injured Carl Tamayo.
What the win means for the standings
The sweep evened Gilas’ record at 4-4 in Group E, putting the Nationals within striking distance of second-placed New Zealand (6-2) and the Iran-Jordan pair at 5-3 in the race for a top-three World Cup berth. Iran dropped to 5-3 with the loss.
| Team | Record | Position in Group E |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 6-2 | Second |
| Iran | 5-3 | Third |
| Jordan | 5-3 | Third |
| Gilas Pilipinas | 4-4 | Fourth |
Back-to-back after a rough patch
The win came two days after Gilas escaped Jordan in overtime, 82-81, to snap a four-game skid. With no naturalized import on the floor, the all-Filipino crew answered Tim Cone’s call to defend home court. The Nationals return to the qualifiers looking to lock in a World Cup spot, building on the momentum from a home stand they hoped would decide their fate.
