Philippines' Gilas Pilipinas survives a close call against Iraq in the Asia Cup, with Dwight Ramos spearheading the team's victory and securing their continued participation.
Philippines Advance to FIBA Asia Cup Quarterfinals with Win Over Iraq
Dwight Ramos shone brightly in Gilas Pilipinas' 66-57 victory over Iraq in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, scoring a game-high 21 points on 64.8% true shooting and grabbing five rebounds. Ramos' versatile offensive game, which included strong drives to the basket and accurate spot-up shooting, helped the team find its rhythm and open the floor [1].
AJ Edu backstopped Ramos with a solid performance, contributing 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Justin Brownlee, while not at his best offensively, made his presence felt in other departments with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. June Mar Fajardo chimed in with 6 points and 7 rebounds, while Carl Tamayo added 6 points to the team's total [2].
The Philippines trailed Iraq 33-35 early in the third period but managed a impressive 22-2 run, thanks to Ramos' 10 points, to build a commanding 55-37 lead. The quarters ended with scores of 12-18, 33-33, 55-40, and 66-57 in favour of the Philippines [3].
Iraq, despite valiant efforts from Thulfiqar Hammoodi and Ali Ismael who scored 13 points each, finished the competition with a 0-3 record [4]. The win allowed Gilas Pilipinas to stay alive in the competition and earn a place in the qualification to the quarterfinals.
However, the identity of the next opponent for Gilas Pilipinas, who will be the second placer from Group C, is not explicitly mentioned in the available sources [1][4]. The team will face a tougher opponent next in their quest for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Philippines finished third in Group D with a 1-2 record.
[1] News Source 1 [2] News Source 2 [3] News Source 3 [4] News Source 4
For Iraq's scores, please refer to the bullet point provided earlier in the article.
The Philippines' victory propelled them further in the competition, positioning them to face the second-place team from Group C in their upcoming NBA-style basketball match. Despite Iraq's impressive performance, their loss to the Philippines sealed their fate with no wins throughout the FIBA Asia Cup tournament.
