MANILA – With elimination staring them in the face, Gilas Pilipinas erupted in the second half to crush Iraq, 66-57, on Saturday night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, snapping a two-game skid and setting up a do-or-die showdown with host Saudi Arabia for a spot in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals.
After two stinging losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, Gilas finally found its stride, breaking a 35-all deadlock in the third quarter behind June Mar Fajardo’s inside muscle, Dwight Ramos’ hot hand, and Justin Brownlee’s steady presence to storm ahead, 55-37.
Iraq refused to fold and cut the gap to 50-57 early in the fourth, but Calvin Oftana’s dagger three-pointer killed their momentum. Brownlee and Ramos then delivered clutch inside baskets to restore a double-digit cushion, 64-50, effectively sealing the win.
Ramos spearheaded the charge with 21 points, including three triples, along with five rebounds and an assist. AJ Edu added nine points, seven boards, three steals, and two blocks, while Brownlee chipped in eight points while holding his ground in the paint.
For Iraq, Ali Ismael and Thufilcar Hammoodi scored 13 points apiece, while Demario Mayfield had 12, but their efforts were not enough to avoid a winless campaign.
Gilas now braces for its most crucial test yet — a must-win qualifier against Saudi Arabia on Monday night (early Tuesday morning in Manila) with the quarterfinal ticket on the line.
For Iraq, Ali Ismael and Thufilcar Hammoodi each scored 13 points, while Demario Mayfield added 12, as the team bowed out winless in the tournament./PN
