After dispatching Jordan on Friday, Gilas Pilipinas will next face another Middle Eastern powerhouse in Iran as Window 4 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers ends tonight at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippines better be ready, as the Iranians are coming off a tough overtime loss to New Zealand, dropping them into fourth place with the Tall Blacks at identical 5‑2 records. Gilas Pilipinas remains in fifth despite the win over Jordan with a 3‑4 slate.
Iran’s Wings Could Pose Big Problems
If Jordan’s biggest strength is their backcourt bannered by Freddy Ibrahim, Jalen Harris, and Abdullah Olajuwon, Iran’s major assets are their wings led by Mohammad Amini, Matin Aghajanpour, and Mohammad Jamshidi. The three spearheaded the Iranians’ near upset of New Zealand, with Aghajanpour leading the way with 19 points, followed by Amini’s 16, and Jamshidi’s 12.
Amini, in particular, is arguably Team Melli’s best currently. The 6‑foot‑6 athletic wing currently plays in France’s LNB Elite and is highly regarded in his home country as its top young prospect. He made his debut in these qualifiers only in this window but already has extensive national team experience, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 boards, and 1.4 assists across 15 games in three different tournaments.
Aghajanpour, another national team mainstay, is also 6‑foot‑6 and one of Iran’s best snipers from deep. He has been reliable in recent years, averaging 16.8 points in the 2025 qualifiers, 11.8 in the FIBA Asia Cup, and 12.9 in this qualifying cycle. On Friday, he proved to be a thorn to New Zealand with his outside shooting.
Jamshidi, who made his debut in these qualifiers also on Friday, is an Iranian OG, having made his seniors debut way back in 2013. Now 35, the 6‑foot‑4 veteran remains a threat, as his 12‑point, 3‑assist outing versus the Tall Blacks showed. He is the closest thing to a three‑level scorer Iran has, and his wily playmaking is something to watch.
Where Gilas Pilipinas Could Have an Advantage
Team Melli used to boast one of the taller frontlines in Asia, but that’s not necessarily the case anymore. Their tallest players, Arman Zangeneh and Salar Monji, stand at just 6‑foot‑9.
This could mean an advantage for Gilas Pilipinas in the interior, where Kai Sotto (7‑3), AJ Edu (6‑10), and June Mar Fajardo (6‑10) could impose their size, strength, and will. Even new call‑up Justin Arana, at 6‑foot‑7, could be an asset in the paint against Iran’s more manageable frontline.
Notably, Gilas Pilipinas has a chance to punish Team Melli on the boards, which is exactly what New Zealand did. The Tall Blacks outrebounded the Iranians, 52‑39, and had a 16‑9 advantage in offensive rebounds. That led to NZ converting 14 second‑chance points compared to Iran’s 2. With Sotto, Edu, and Fajardo anchoring a tall frontcourt, the Philippines should look to replicate that effort, potentially controlling possessions and creating more scoring opportunities.
Iran vs. Gilas Pilipinas, One More Time
Gilas Pilipinas (3‑4) and Team Melli (5‑2) face off later tonight at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Tip‑off is at 8:00 p.m.
