Nationals break away against Iranians Doha World Cup slot now within reach

Fighting hard in front of a foot-stomping, animated gallery, Gilas Pilipinas gained some breathing room as the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers drew to a close on Sunday.

The Nationals got the job done before another packed crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena, as they shook off another flat start to beat Iran, 68-56 and narrow the gap in the race for spots in next year’s World Cup.

Kai Sotto had another mammoth game, Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liaño also came up big as the Philippines completed a sweep of the window and improved to an even 4-4 in the second round of qualification.

In beating Iran, as well as Jordan in a thrilling 82-81 overtime decision on Friday, Gilas is now just a game behind the two Middle Eastern countries in the race for top three berths that will earn main draw slots to the main event in Qatar next year.

“I’m extremely happy,” coach Tim Cone said. “[Before the window], I said that if we win these two games, I’d be the happiest guy in the world because [Jordan and Iran] are two high-level teams, Iran especially.”

Iran and Jordan fell to 5-3 after they both came up empty-handed in this window, sending them to a tie for third in Group E standings.

Swan song for JMF

Australia remains ahead of the pack with a perfect 8-0 record while New Zealand climbed up to second at 6-2. The Boomers routed Jordan, 126-93, prior to the Gilas win.

Team Philippines is trying to make the World Cup for the fourth straight time, and the next window in November could very well decide its chances.

The victory also allowed June Mar Fajardo to end his national team career on a winning note and getting a fitting tribute after the final buzzer when he was given the game ball while also getting chants of “MVP!”

Fajardo didn’t just go out victorious, he made sure he would help in the win. He finished with six points and two rebounds in seven minutes, but his three-minute stint in the second frame when Gilas rallied from an early deficit was big.

Fajardo came to international prominence when the Philippines first returned to the World Cup in 2014 in Seville, Spain. There, he established himself as one of the best in Asia.

He played a total of 13 years as a national full-time while shuffling duties as the franchise player of San Miguel Beer in the PBA.

Ramos and Gomez de Liaño shared scoring honors for the Philippines with 16 points apiece, while Sotto had 13 points, 16 rebounds plus three assists.

“I am just so blessed to have been able to play with the pioneers of Gilas and the present and future of the team,” Fajardo said in Filipino.

“He had such a great national team career,” Sotto said. “This win is dedicated to him.”

Like when it played Jordan three nights back, Gilas endured another flat start as Iran ended the first quarter with an 18-7 lead. In that period, the Philippines made just two of 13 attempts even as it was rocked by the sudden shooting exhibition from backup guard Mobin Sheikhi.

Sheikhi, who played just 10 minutes in Iran’s 93-91 overtime loss to New Zealand, fired triple after triple and finished with 21 points.

And like Jordan, Gilas was able to find ways to come back and would eventually go into halftime up 36-34. INQ