Heroes aplenty as Gilas Pilipinas turns back Iran to complete home sweep

GUNNER. Dwight Ramos in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

FIBA

Dwight Ramos, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kai Sotto, and AJ Edu join hands in a superb finish as Gilas Pilipinas beats Iran in FIBA play for the first time in over a decade

AT A GLANCE

• Gilas Pilipinas completed a two-game homestand sweep in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 68-56 victory over Iran, improving their record to 4-4 in Group E.
• Key players included Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liaño, both scoring 16 points, while Kai Sotto recorded a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.
• The win marked Gilas Pilipinas' first victory over Iran in FIBA play in over a decade, and they will face Syria and Iran again in November.

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MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas leaned on a strong finish and completed a sweep of its two-game homestand in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers after a 68-56 win over Iran on Sunday, August 30, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Similar to its gritty 82-81 victory over Jordan two days prior, heroes were aplenty for the Philippines as Dwight Ramos, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kai Sotto, and AJ Edu joined hands in a 19-4 finishing run that allowed the hosts to even their record to 4-4 in Group E. 

Iran momentarily took a 52-49 lead behind Mobin Sheikhi early in the fourth quarter before the Filipinos dominated the rest of the way.

Gomez de Liaño came off the bench and produced 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting and Ramos also finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, including a three-pointer that broke a 54-54 deadlock and sparked the Philippines’ breakaway.

Sotto once again turned in a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds, while Edu protected the paint with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. 

The win marked the first time Gilas Pilipinas beat Iran in FIBA play in over a decade, or since its 87-73 victory over Team Melli in the 2015 Asia Championship, where it captured the silver medal.

Playing in likely his final game for the national team, June Mar Fajardo made the most of his brief stint, contributing 6 points in a little over seven minutes of play as he proved pivotal in Gilas Pilipinas’ resurgence from a lethargic start. 

The Filipinos got buried by as deep as 13 points, 5-18, and trailed 7-18 at the end of the opening quarter before they flipped the script in the second period behind Ramos and Fajardo to seize the upper hand at halftime, 36-34. 

Sheikhi, the smallest player on the court standing at 5-foot-8, surprised the Philippines and led Iran with 21 points on a 5-of-8 clip from beyond the arc.

But with no other Iranian player scoring in double figures, Team Melli fell to 5-3 as they dropped both their fourth-window games after also losing to New Zealand.

Gilas Pilipinas returns to action in the Asian Qualifiers in November when it battles Syria and Iran again. – Rappler.com