Gilas Loses against Iran in 2013 FIBA Championships,85-71

Gilas Loses against Iran in 2013 FIBA Championships,85-71

Gilas main man, Marcus Douthit, was out of the game due to injuries but the Philippine basketball squad was full of courage in challenging the taller and bigger men of team Iran. Gilas Pilipinas tailed in scoring but there was no twist in the game and they end up losing in the title game of the 27th FIBA Asia Men's Basketball Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

An undermanned Gilas Pilipinas showed their lion hearts as they put together all their efforts before bowing to the giants of Iran, 85-71. In front of nearly 20,000 fans that included President Benigno Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar Binay and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Gilas briefly took the lead in the first quarter and stayed within striking distance up until the third period. Gilas had cut it to within six points, 53-59, after two free throws by skipper Jimmy Alapag. However, Iran's veteran point guard Mahdi Kamrani drilled a triple at the third-quarter buzzer and with NBA player Hamed Hadadi, who controlled the inside play, simply outscored the Filipinos in the final quarter.