.png){kind=spacer}
2 hours ago
3
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto towers over Iran players during their game in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas rallied past Iran, 68-56, to complete a crucial sweep in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Sunday night before a packed crowd at Mall of Asia Arena.
Gilas improved to 4-4 and more importantly, put itself back into serious contention for a top-three finish in Group E and an automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Kai Sotto came up big anew on both ends with 13 points and 16 rebounds, while Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liano led the Philippines in scoring with 16 apiece.
READ: ‘Halftime’ done for Gilas, which hopes to complete job vs Iran
The Philippines trailed by as many as 13 early before turning things around in the second quarter behind Gomez de Liano, Ramos and veteran center June Mar Fajardo.
In his national team swansong, Fajardo was one of the sparks off the bench, scoring all of his six points in a key second quarter for Gilas.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
