Dwight Ramos erupts as Gilas Pilipinas crushes Iraq to keep FIBA Asia Cup bid alive

Dwight Ramos starred in Gilas Pilipinas' third-quarter breakaway to lead a 66-57 win over Iraq as the Filipinos remained alive in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

The star guard delivered his finest performance so far in the tournament as Gilas avoided elimination, grabbing its breakthrough win to finish the Group D play with a 1-2 card. The national team has also advanced to the playoff for quarterfinals.

Ramos broke out with a team-high 21 points highlighted by two triples that sparked the third quarter pull-away, while also finishing with five rebounds, one assist, and one steal to step up amid the offensive woes of Justin Brownlee.

AJ Edu chipped in nine markers, seven boards, three steals, and two blocks while Brownlee, who was averaging 28.0 points this contest, was held to just eight points but had seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

With Brownlee struggling to find his touch in the first half, Gilas Pilipinas headed into halftime locked in a 33-all stalemate with Iraq.

Ramos took charge in the third quarter, drilling back-to-back triples before Scottie Thompson set up Brownlee for another from deep, fueling a surge that gave Gilas a much-needed 44-35 cushion.

Ramos then completed a three-point play before Chris Newsome knocked down a triple of his own and Brownlee cleaned up with a putback basket to send Gilas to its biggest lead at 55-37. 

Iraq, though, staged a gallant fightback in the fourth after unleashing a 10-2 rampage thanks to two consecutive three-pointers from Ihab Al-Zuhairi to pull within a single digit, 50-57, halfway through the payoff period.

Calvin Oftana sank his only field goal of the night and made it a 60-50 advantage before exiting with an apparent right ankle injury with 3:19 remaining. Ramos put the punctuation by completing a reverse layup that allowed Gilas to secure a comfortable 64-50 lead in the final 1:50. 

Ali Ismael and Thulfiqar Hammoodi led Iraq with 13 points each while Al-Zuhairi chipped in eight markers, 10 rebounds, and one steal to mark their last game of the tournament. 

Scores:

Gilas Pilipinas 66 - Ramos 21, Edu 9, Brownlee 8, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 6, Newsome 4, Quiambao 4, Oftana 3, Perez 3, Aguilar 2, Thompson 0.

Iraq 57 - Hamoodi 13, Israel 13, Mayfield 12, Al-Zuhairi 8, Abdullah 5, Al-Khafaji 4, Alibraheemi 2, Abbas 0.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News