What a difference one weekend can make.
Just a few days ago, Gilas Pilipinas entered the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a 2–4 record, four consecutive losses and growing pressure to keep its World Cup hopes alive.
Now?
Gilas is 4–4.
The Philippines defeated Jordan in an overtime thriller on Friday and followed it up with an impressive 68–56 victory over Iran on Sunday night, August 30, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Two games.
Two victories.
And suddenly, the road to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar doesn’t look nearly as difficult as it did before this window.
Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liaño led Gilas with 16 points each against Iran. Kai Sotto recorded another double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. AJ Edu was excellent defensively.
And in an emotional storyline that went beyond the result, June Mar Fajardo officially played his final game for Gilas Pilipinas after 13 years representing the country.
For Tim Cone, who had said before the window that winning both games would make him extremely happy, the sweep couldn’t have gone much better.
Gilas didn’t have Justin Brownlee.
Carl Tamayo was unavailable against Iran because of an ankle injury.
The Philippines fell behind badly in both games.
And yet Gilas still found a way to beat Jordan and Iran, two of the teams it is directly chasing in Group E.
Here is everything you need to know about the Philippines’ 68–56 victory over Iran, the latest World Cup qualifying standings, Kai Sotto’s impressive comeback and what comes next for Gilas Pilipinas.
Content
Gilas Pilipinas Beats Iran, 68–56
Let’s start with the result.
Final score
Philippines 68
Iran 56
It was the type of final score that makes the game look more comfortable than it actually was.
For much of Sunday night, this was another tense Gilas battle.
Iran started quickly.
The Philippines struggled badly on offense.
And after one quarter, Iran had an 18–7 advantage.
At one point, Gilas had fallen behind 18–5.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because something similar happened against Jordan.
The Philippines also fell into a huge early hole Friday night before eventually coming back.
Against Iran, Gilas did it again.
FIBA reported that the Philippines overcame the slow start before eventually closing the game with a devastating 14–2 run to complete the 68–56 victory.
Gilas Couldn’t Buy a Basket in the First Quarter
The beginning wasn’t pretty.
The Philippines made only two of its first 13 field-goal attempts and found itself trailing 18–7 after the opening quarter.
Iran guard Mobin Sheikhi made the situation even more difficult by getting hot from outside.
For a Gilas team coming off an exhausting overtime game less than 48 hours earlier, there was reason to worry.
Was the team tired?
Had Friday night’s emotional win taken too much out of them?
Would Iran’s experienced defense control the game?
Those questions felt reasonable during the first quarter.
Then Gilas started fighting back.
Again.
June Mar Fajardo Helps Change the Energy
One of the players who helped turn the game around was June Mar Fajardo.
And considering what we know now, the moment feels even more special.
Fajardo entered during the second quarter and gave Gilas a lift inside.
One of his biggest moments came on a jump hook that cut Iran’s lead to 29–25 and brought the Mall of Asia Arena crowd to life.
Tim Cone later described the play as a major emotional boost for the team.
Gilas eventually completed the comeback and entered halftime ahead, 36–34, despite trailing 18–7 after the first quarter.
June Mar finished with six points and two rebounds in only seven minutes.
Those aren’t huge statistics.
But this was never really about the box score.
It turned out to be his final appearance for the Philippine national team.
And he made sure he contributed before saying goodbye.
Gilas Takes Control After Halftime
The third quarter remained competitive.
Gilas carried a 49–47 advantage into the fourth, but Iran wasn’t going anywhere.
A three-pointer from Sheikhi put Iran back in front, 52–49.
AJ Edu responded with two free throws.
Then Juan Gomez de Liaño made a three-pointer to give Gilas a 54–52 advantage.
Mohammad Amini answered for Iran.
With a little over seven minutes remaining:
Philippines 54, Iran 54.
At that point, the game was completely up for grabs.
Then Gilas took over.
The 14–2 Run That Finished Iran
This was the defining stretch of the night.
Dwight Ramos hit a three-pointer to give Gilas the lead.
Kai Sotto followed with a putback dunk after an AJ Edu miss.
Ramos then made a difficult fallaway jumper.
Suddenly:
Gilas 61, Iran 54.
Iran managed one more basket.
That was it.
Sotto, Edu and Ramos helped Gilas finish the night with another run, and the Philippines pulled away for the 68–56 victory.
From a 54–54 tie to a 68–56 final score.
That’s a 14–2 closing run.
And against an experienced Iranian team fighting for its own World Cup qualification position, that’s an impressive way to finish a game.
Dwight Ramos Delivers When Gilas Needs Him
Dwight Ramos has been one of the most dependable Gilas players of this generation.
Sunday night was another example.
Ramos finished with:
16 points
He shared team scoring honors with Juan Gomez de Liaño.
More importantly, some of his biggest points came when the game was on the line.
His three-pointer after Iran tied the score at 54 gave Gilas the lead for good.
Then came the difficult fallaway jumper during the decisive fourth-quarter run.
Ramos isn’t always the loudest personality on the roster.
He doesn’t necessarily dominate every Gilas headline.
But international basketball rarely seems to intimidate him.
Against Iran, that experience showed.
Juan Gomez de Liaño Steps Up in a Big Way
If you were looking for one of the best surprise stories of the game, Juan Gomez de Liaño deserves plenty of attention.
Juan GDL also scored:
16 points
He gave Gilas an important offensive spark, particularly at a time when the Philippines needed additional scoring without Justin Brownlee and Carl Tamayo.
His fourth-quarter three-pointer was especially important.
After Iran took a 52–49 lead, Gomez de Liaño connected from deep to put Gilas ahead 54–52 following two AJ Edu free throws.
That was a big moment.
Gilas could have allowed Iran to regain control.
Instead, Juan answered.
FIBA credited Ramos and Gomez de Liaño as the Philippines’ leading scorers in the win, with the pair helping spearhead Gilas’ late attack.
For a national-team program trying to build greater depth, performances like this are extremely encouraging.
Kai Sotto Records Another Double-Double
And then there’s Kai Sotto.
What a return to Gilas this has been.
Against Iran:
- 13 points
- 16 rebounds
- 3 assists
Another double-double.
Against Jordan two nights earlier:
- 18 points
- 14 rebounds
- 3 assists
- 2 blocks
That means across his first two official Gilas games since returning from his long absence, Sotto totaled:
31 points and 30 rebounds
That’s a pretty impressive way to return to international basketball.
FIBA highlighted Sotto’s 13-point, 16-rebound performance as another major part of the victory over Iran.
Remember what Kai has been through.
He hadn’t played an official Gilas game since November 2024.
He suffered a torn ACL while playing professionally in Japan in January 2025.
There was surgery.
There was rehabilitation.
There was the long road back to professional basketball.
Then there were questions about when he would finally return to the national team.
He came back against Jordan.
Eighteen points.
Fourteen rebounds.
Game-saving block.
Then against Iran:
Thirteen points.
Sixteen rebounds.
Another Gilas victory.
For Tim Cone, that’s about as good a comeback window as he could have hoped for.
The Sotto-Edu Frontcourt Is Looking Very Interesting
Kai wasn’t the only young Gilas big man who impressed.
AJ Edu finished with:
- 8 points
- 8 rebounds
- 3 blocks
FIBA noted that Edu produced three of the Philippines’ four blocks against Iran.
That gives Gilas something worth getting excited about moving forward.
Kai Sotto and AJ Edu together provide:
- size
- length
- rim protection
- rebounding
- mobility
- youth
They can also complement each other.
Kai provides the bigger offensive target and natural size around the rim.
Edu can move defensively, cover ground and defend different frontcourt positions.
That combination may become increasingly important now that June Mar Fajardo is stepping away from international basketball.
Gilas Sweeps Window 4 Without Justin Brownlee
This might be one of the most impressive parts of the whole story.
Gilas beat Jordan and Iran without Justin Brownlee.
Brownlee has been Tim Cone’s most trusted naturalized player.
He has delivered some of the greatest Philippine basketball moments in recent years, including the country’s historic Asian Games gold-medal run.
Normally, when a Gilas game gets tight, Brownlee is the player everyone expects to have the ball.
But he wasn’t available for this window.
And Gilas still went 2–0.
Against Jordan, the scoring came from Kai Sotto, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao and Dwight Ramos.
Against Iran, Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liaño took the lead offensively, while Sotto controlled the boards.
Cone specifically pointed out how meaningful it was to defeat Iran with an all-Filipino lineup.
That’s significant.
It doesn’t mean Gilas no longer needs Brownlee.
A healthy Brownlee makes the Philippines better.
But the Jordan and Iran victories showed that this team can find other ways to win.
That should give everyone more confidence moving forward.
Gilas Also Won Without Carl Tamayo
The Philippines had another setback before the Iran game.
Carl Tamayo was ruled out because of the left ankle sprain he suffered against Jordan.
Justin Arana was activated to replace him.
So Gilas entered the Iran matchup without Brownlee and without one of its most versatile forwards.
It didn’t matter.
The Philippines still found enough production from the rest of the lineup.
Again, that depth is encouraging.
One of the problems national teams regularly face is player availability.
Overseas commitments.
Club restrictions.
Injuries.
Scheduling conflicts.
Having more players who can step into meaningful roles makes Gilas far more resilient.
Gilas Finally Gets Another FIBA Win Over Iran
This victory also carries some history.
Iran has been one of the Philippines’ toughest opponents for years.
Older Gilas fans probably don’t need to be reminded about the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship final at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippines had already achieved its goal of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, but Iran defeated Gilas in the championship game.
Iran also beat the Philippines, 78–70, at the MOA Arena during the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers.
Before Sunday, the Philippines had lost its previous two FIBA meetings with Iran.
This time, Gilas flipped the script.
FIBA noted that Sunday’s victory prevented Iran from winning a third consecutive FIBA matchup against the Philippines.
Even more importantly, Gilas did it in the same arena associated with some painful losses to Iran.
There is something satisfying about that.
Tim Cone: “I’m Extremely Happy”
Before Window 4, Tim Cone knew exactly how difficult the assignment was.
Jordan entered the window at 5–1.
Iran entered at 5–1.
Gilas?
2–4.
Cone had said that if the Philippines somehow won both games, he’d be extremely happy.
Well, they did it.
After beating Iran, Cone said he was almost lost for words and described himself as the happiest guy in the world after the two victories.
You can understand why.
This wasn’t a sweep of two bottom teams.
Gilas beat two countries that entered the window significantly ahead of the Philippines in the standings.
And it did so under difficult circumstances.
No Brownlee.
Kai only just returning.
Tamayo injured.
Two poor starts.
One overtime game.
Then less than 48 hours to prepare for Iran.
Two wins out of two is a major result.
From 2–4 to 4–4
This is where the victory becomes really important.
Before Window 4:
Gilas Pilipinas: 2–4
After Window 4:
Gilas Pilipinas: 4–4
That’s the difference between a qualifying campaign that appeared to be in serious trouble and one that is suddenly very much alive.
After the completed Group E games, Australia remains unbeaten at 8–0 and New Zealand is second at 6–2.
Jordan and Iran are now both 5–3.
The Philippines sits immediately behind them at 4–4.
Syria is 2–6.
Group E standings after Window 4
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 8–0 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 6–2 |
| 3 | Jordan | 5–3 |
| 4 | Iran | 5–3 |
| 5 | Philippines | 4–4 |
| 6 | Syria | 2–6 |
Look at that gap.
Gilas is now only one win behind Jordan and Iran.
That is huge.
Can Gilas Still Qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup?
Absolutely.
In fact, the situation looks significantly better today than it did before the Jordan game.
Under the Asian Qualifiers format, the top three teams in each second-round group qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The best fourth-placed team across the two groups also qualifies.
Qatar is already guaranteed a World Cup place as the host nation.
That means Gilas has multiple possible paths.
Option 1: Finish in the top three
This is the cleanest route.
Australia currently looks difficult to catch.
New Zealand also has a two-game advantage over the Philippines.
But Jordan and Iran are only one victory ahead.
That’s where things get interesting.
Option 2: Finish fourth and win the fourth-place race
Even if Gilas doesn’t finish third, fourth place could still send the Philippines to Qatar if its overall record is better than the eligible fourth-place finisher from Group F.
That scenario will become clearer during the November and February windows.
But Gilas shouldn’t want to depend on calculators and tiebreakers.
The simplest strategy remains:
Keep winning.
Gilas’ Next Game: Syria vs Philippines
The World Cup qualifying campaign now takes a break.
Gilas returns in November.
The next scheduled matchup is:
Syria vs Philippines
Date: November 27, 2026
Tournament: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers
Round: Second Round – Group E
The official FIBA schedule currently lists the tip-off time as still to be determined.
This is another game Gilas will view as extremely important.
Syria is currently 2–6.
On paper, the Philippines should have an advantage.
But road games in international basketball are rarely simple.
And after working this hard to climb back to 4–4, Gilas cannot afford to give away a winnable game.
Then Comes Another Huge Gilas vs Iran Game
Three days later:
Iran vs Philippines
Date: November 30, 2026
This time, Gilas won’t have the Manila crowd behind it.
It will be the return meeting against Iran.
FIBA currently lists both the Syria and Iran games as road fixtures for the Philippines.
That Iran matchup could be enormous.
Consider the current records:
Iran: 5–3
Philippines: 4–4
If Gilas takes care of Syria first, the November 30 game could directly affect which team sits in the top three or top four.
Suddenly, that’s a game Filipino basketball fans should already circle on the calendar.
Gilas Still Has Two More Games in February 2027
After November, the qualifying campaign concludes in February 2027.
The Philippines is scheduled to host Jordan on February 25.
Gilas will then play its final second-round game later in that window.
So there is still basketball left.
No one has qualified based solely on what happened this weekend.
But beating Jordan and Iran has given Gilas much more control over its own situation.
That’s all you can really ask for at this stage.
June Mar Fajardo Retires From Gilas Pilipinas
Now we get to the most emotional part of Sunday’s game.
June Mar Fajardo has officially retired from Gilas Pilipinas.
After the victory over Iran, Fajardo confirmed that it was really his final national-team appearance.
His Gilas career lasted 13 years.
Sunday was his 70th game across FIBA competitions.
And fittingly, his national-team journey ended at the same Mall of Asia Arena where it began during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
That’s quite a full-circle moment.
June Mar’s 13-Year Gilas Career
For younger fans, it may be easy to take June Mar’s presence for granted.
He has been around for so long.
But think about everything that happened during his national-team career.
Fajardo was part of the generation that helped the Philippines return to the FIBA World Cup.
He represented the country during the 2014 World Cup in Spain.
He later played in the 2019 World Cup.
Then he represented Gilas again during the 2023 World Cup hosted partly in the Philippines.
FIBA described him as a three-time World Cup campaigner during its tribute to his final appearance.
All while building one of the greatest PBA careers of all time.
Balancing club commitments, injuries and national-team responsibilities for more than a decade isn’t easy.
Fajardo kept answering the call.
A Perfect Ending for June Mar
The ending couldn’t have been much better.
His final game was at home.
At the Mall of Asia Arena.
Against Iran, a team connected to so much of Gilas’ modern history.
The Philippines won.
His teammates gave him the game ball afterward.
And fans inside the arena chanted:
“MVP! MVP! MVP!”
Fajardo had six points and two rebounds in seven minutes.
But the lasting memory will probably be his second-quarter jump hook and the roar that followed.
Cone said the basket helped lift both the crowd and the team.
Sometimes the best endings don’t need 30 points.
They just need one more contribution.
One more win.
And one final moment in front of the fans.
Gilas Dedicated the Win to June Mar
The farewell clearly meant something to the players too.
Kai Sotto and Juan Gomez de Liaño said giving Fajardo a winning sendoff was part of the team’s motivation against Iran.
For Kai in particular, it felt symbolic.
For years, June Mar has been one of the dominant big men of Philippine basketball.
Now Sotto is increasingly becoming the centerpiece of Gilas’ frontcourt.
After the game, Fajardo said he believes the national team is in good hands with a healthy Kai Sotto.
That’s the changing-of-the-guard storyline almost writing itself.
One great Philippine center says goodbye.
Another is returning to the national team at perhaps the most important stage of his career.
Is Kai Sotto Now the Centerpiece of Gilas?
It’s probably too early to place the entire national team on one player’s shoulders.
But it’s difficult to ignore what we just watched.
Kai gave Gilas 18 points and 14 rebounds against Jordan.
Then 13 and 16 against Iran.
He made the game-saving defensive play Friday.
He helped finish the decisive run Sunday.
He gives Gilas legitimate international size.
And he’s still only 24 years old.
If Sotto can remain healthy and available, he could be a foundational piece of this national team for many years.
That includes:
- the remainder of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers
- a possible 2027 World Cup appearance
- future FIBA Asia competitions
- Olympic qualifying tournaments
- future international windows
Health and availability have always been the biggest questions.
Window 4 showed what can happen when both are there.
What This Window Tells Us About Gilas
There are several things worth taking away from these two games.
Gilas can win without Brownlee
Again, Brownlee makes the team better.
But beating Jordan and Iran without him proves that Gilas isn’t completely dependent on one player.
That’s important.
Kai Sotto changes the defense
Opponents simply play differently when a 7-foot-3 rim protector is waiting inside.
That effect isn’t always captured by blocks.
The Philippines has more depth than we thought
Juan Gomez de Liaño stepped up against Iran.
CJ Perez stepped up against Jordan.
Kevin Quiambao hit the biggest shot Friday.
AJ Edu was excellent defensively Sunday.
Different games produced different heroes.
That’s healthy for a national team.
Slow starts remain a problem
This shouldn’t be ignored just because Gilas won.
The Philippines fell behind badly against both Jordan and Iran.
Against stronger opponents, repeatedly trying to erase double-digit deficits is not sustainable.
Cone and his staff will surely look at that before November.
Gilas can defend
Holding Iran to 56 points is impressive.
Especially when Iran scored 18 in the first quarter.
That means Team Melli managed only 38 points over the final three periods.
That’s the kind of defense Gilas needs if it wants to qualify for the World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Gilas Pilipinas beat Iran?
Yes. Gilas Pilipinas defeated Iran, 68–56, on August 30, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
What is Gilas Pilipinas’ record now?
The Philippines improved to 4–4 in Group E of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Who led Gilas against Iran?
Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liaño scored 16 points each to lead the Philippines.
How did Kai Sotto perform against Iran?
Sotto finished with 13 points, 16 rebounds and three assists.
How did Kai Sotto perform in Window 4?
Kai recorded double-doubles in both games. He had 18 points and 14 rebounds against Jordan, followed by 13 points and 16 rebounds against Iran.
Did Gilas sweep Window 4?
Yes. The Philippines defeated Jordan, 82–81 in overtime, and Iran, 68–56, to finish Window 4 with a 2–0 record.
Is Justin Brownlee playing for Gilas?
Brownlee did not play during Window 4 because of health and injury concerns. Gilas defeated both Jordan and Iran using an all-Filipino lineup.
What happened to Carl Tamayo?
Tamayo suffered an ankle sprain during the Jordan game and was unavailable against Iran.
Did June Mar Fajardo retire from Gilas?
Yes. Fajardo officially confirmed after the Iran victory that he is retiring from national-team duty.
How long did June Mar Fajardo play for Gilas?
His international career spanned 13 years and 70 FIBA games.
What is Gilas’ next game?
The Philippines is scheduled to play Syria on November 27, 2026, in the next World Cup qualifying window.
When is Gilas vs Iran again?
The Philippines and Iran are scheduled to meet again on November 30, 2026, with Iran hosting the return matchup.
Can Gilas still qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup?
Yes. Gilas is now 4–4 and only one victory behind Jordan and Iran, which are both 5–3. The top three teams in each second-round group qualify, while the best fourth-placed team also earns a World Cup berth.
Final Thoughts
Maybe this was exactly the kind of weekend Gilas Pilipinas needed.
Before Window 4, there were plenty of reasons to be worried.
Four straight losses.
A 2–4 record.
Justin Brownlee unavailable.
Kai Sotto only just returning from a long absence.
Then Carl Tamayo gets injured.
Jordan and Iran waiting.
It could have gone badly.
Instead:
Gilas 82, Jordan 81.
Gilas 68, Iran 56.
The Philippines is 4–4.
Kai Sotto looks healthy and impactful.
Dwight Ramos remains dependable.
Juan Gomez de Liaño just reminded everyone how much depth this team can have.
AJ Edu is developing into a serious defensive presence.
And Gilas has shown that it can beat high-level Asian opponents even without its naturalized star.
There is still a long way to go.
Australia remains unbeaten.
New Zealand has created some separation.
Jordan and Iran are still ahead of the Philippines.
The November road games against Syria and Iran will be difficult.
But Gilas has given itself a chance.
That’s the most important thing.
And perhaps there couldn’t have been a more fitting way to end the weekend than seeing June Mar Fajardo holding the game ball while the Mall of Asia Arena crowd chanted “MVP.”
One era of Gilas basketball comes to an end.
At the same time, another version of the national team appears to be taking shape.
Kai Sotto.
AJ Edu.
Kevin Quiambao.
Dwight Ramos.
Juan Gomez de Liaño.
CJ Perez.
Scottie Thompson.
The rest of Tim Cone’s developing core.
The future isn’t guaranteed.
World Cup qualification isn’t guaranteed.
But after what Gilas accomplished against Jordan and Iran, Filipino basketball fans finally have plenty of reason to feel optimistic again.
The road to Qatar is still open.
And Gilas Pilipinas is very much back in the race.
