At A Glance
- Gilas Pilipinas women's team leaned on a huge third-quarter explosion to turn back Iran, 64-58, and pick up its first win in the 42nd William Jones Cup at the Taipei Peace Basketball Hall on Sunday, Aug. 6.
Gilas Pilipinas women’s team leaned on a huge third-quarter explosion to turn back Iran, 64-60, and pick up its first win in the 42nd William Jones Cup at the Taipei Peace Basketball Hall on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Jhazmin Joson leads the way for Gilas Women against Iran. (FIBA Photo/File)
Just like in the first game which the Filipinas dropped to host Chinese Taipei, offensive woes hampered Gilas in the first two quarters before finally getting its bearings going in the third frame by erupting for 26 points.
More importantly, Gilas’ defense finally bared its fangs after giving up 21 points in the second frame, limiting Iran to a measly nine points in the pivotal third-quarter run.
Jhazmin Joson and Kacey Dela Rosa paced the Nationals with 12 points apiece with Joson scattering six points in the third quarter that set the tone for the crew to even its win-loss record to 1-1.
Joson was also on target with four connections from deep while Dela Rosa’s second-straight impressive performance also came with eight rebounds, a steal and a block.
Jack Daniel Animam only had seven points but made her presence felt on the boards after hauling down 15 rebounds.
Gilas, which struggled offensively in the first two quarters with only 23 points against Iran’s 30, woke up from a slumber with a 17-point third-quarter turnaround to lead by 10, 49-39.
Iran tried to mount a comeback in the final frame behind Negin Rasoulipour Khameneh, who finished with 18 points, but it was not enough to overcome Gilas in the end.