Gilas Pilipinas secures a spot in the semifinals of the 19th Asian Games, marking their first appearance in the final four since 2002.
In a nail-biting showdown, Gilas narrowly held onto their lead for an 84-83 victory over Iran, held at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Stadium in China.
Justin Brownlee delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 36 crucial points, including 16 in the opening quarter and 15 in the third frame. He also showcased his versatility with eight rebounds and four assists.
June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson also played pivotal roles for the Filipino team. Fajardo, the San Miguel superstar, contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Ginebra's Thompson added 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Despite once leading by a substantial 21 points (62-41) following Fajardo's basket with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, Gilas struggled to maintain their advantage as they entered the final frame.
Iran launched a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, embarking on a 13-2 run fueled by Matin Aghanjanpour, who scored two three-pointers, and Meisam Mirzaeitalarposhti.
The Iranians even managed to snatch a one-point lead, 81-80, after Mohammadsina Vahedi's three-pointer and successful free throws. They maintained an 83-82 lead with only 1:02 left in the game, following a basket by Navid Rezaeifar.
However, it was Justin Brownlee who once again seized control of the game, sinking the game-winning shot with a baseline floater and only 44 seconds left on the clock.
Vahedi emerged as Iran's top scorer with 24 points, including four from three-pointers, while Rezaeifar and Mirzaeitalarposhti contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively. Despite their efforts, Iran will be competing in the tournament's 5th-8th place classification phase.
Gilas Pilipinas is now gearing up for a showdown against the host country, China, scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, with the game set to tip off at 8 PM.
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