Gilas Pilipinas Goes 0–2, Requires a Win Over Iraq to Stay Alive in FIBA Asia Cup

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by Cristian Andal

Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee (32) during the game against New Zealand in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo: FIBA.

Gilas Pilipinas finds itself deep in the doldrums after consecutive Group D losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, dropping to 0–2 heading into a crucial showdown with Iraq on August 10.

This makes the game against Iraq a do-or-die affair for the Nationals.

Group Opener: Unforgiving First Half

In their first game against Chinese Taipei, Gilas stumbled early—allowing a fast start from their rival to snowball. The team was left chasing the game throughout, and despite late-game effort, their performance never reached its potential.

Justin Brownlee (32) during the opener against Chinese Taipei. Photo: FIBA.

Game Two: Spirited Comeback Falls Short Against the Kiwis

Against New Zealand, Gilas dug a deep hole, falling behind by 18 points in the first half as their defense crumbled to 50% three-point shooting by the opposition. Despite a furious third-quarter recovery—catalyzed by Justin Brownlee’s 37 points and Dwight Ramos’ all-around game—the Tall Blacks stayed composed and locked down the win.

Australian sources summarized the game by noting Brownlee’s incredible output and Ramos’ energy, but also highlighted the team’s struggle to contain the New Zealand wings. Jordan N’gatai (22 points) and Taylor Britt (19 points, 7 assists) ran the backcourt for the Tall Blacks and proved too much.

Gilas Pilipinas guard Dwight Ramos. Photo: FIBA.

Team Reflections and Next Steps

Head coach Tim Cone did not sugarcoat the message: Gilas must be better from the outset. A flat start in both games—especially when star import Brownlee carried the scoring load—left the team vulnerable.

“[We] couldn’t get over the hump,” Cone admitted. He urged that the team learn quickly, noting that their quarterfinal hopes hang by a thread.

Brownlee, despite the loss, praised his teammates’ fight and urged them to shift focus quickly. “We just have to keep fighting,” he said. With such narrow margins, mental toughness may determine who survives to the next phase.

What’s Next: Win or Go Home

A win against Iraq will be do-or-die—only the third-placed teams in this group will have a chance to advance. Gilas must fix early-game breakdowns, improve perimeter defense, and execute better late-game offense if they want to extend their run.