FIBA World Cup: Gilas' fellow Asian qualifiers Iran, Korea suffer huge beatdowns

The Philippine national team has suffered two losses in as many games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, but the squad has kept the score respectable in matches against European powers Croatia and Greece.

The same cannot be said, however, for Gilas Pilipinas' fellow Asian qualifiers Iran and South Korea, which have suffered huge blowout losses in each of their first two games.

Iran, the champions of last year's FIBA Asia Championship, was blown out by Spain, 90-60, in Group A to open the tournament. The Persians didn't do much better against Brazil, getting pasted, 79-50.

South Korea, which finished third in Asia last year, fell to Angola, 80-69. But the East Asians got blown off the court by Australia, 89-55, in their second assignment in the tournament.

The Philippines, the runner-up in last year's Asian tournament, dropped a close 81-78 overtime game against Croatia before yielding an 82-70 result against Greece. — JST, GMA News/Photo courtesy of FIBA