Philippines vs Iraq [2025 FIBA Asia Cup | Aug. 7 | 11:00pm| Jeddah, KSA]

It’s now a matter of life and death for Gilas Pilipinas as they approach a critical showdown in the 31st FIBA Asia Cup.

The men’s national team is set to face Iraq for the final playoff berth in Group D of this prestigious continental tournament on Saturday afternoon (Manila time) at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Both the Filipinos and Iraqis find themselves at the bottom of their group, each holding a disappointing 0-2 record after suffering losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

The victor of this matchup will secure the third spot in Group D, earning the right to compete against the second-placed team from Group C in the crossover playoffs, which feature the second and third-placed teams from the four different groups.

Gilas experienced a tough setback Friday morning, falling to New Zealand by a score of 94-86, despite a remarkable performance from Justin Brownlee, who notched a tournament-high 37 points.

Coach Tim Cone expressed his frustration after the loss, especially given the Philippines’ impressive comeback from an 18-point deficit in the first half, only to falter in the final minutes against the world’s 22nd-ranked squad.

Dwight Ramos ignited in the second half, contributing 19 points as he and Brownlee led a fierce rally from a 55-37 hole in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to 85-82 with just three minutes left on the clock.

However, the Tall Blacks proved to be a seasoned team, expertly maintaining their composure in the closing moments.

Despite the disappointing defeat, Cone remains optimistic, sensing a glimmer of hope for Gilas—but one that they must seize without hesitation.