(UPDATE) GILAS Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes pointed out that the players and the coaching staff need to immediately address the team's 'slow starts' in the game if the Filipinos want to stand toe to toe against tough squads in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia starting August 25.

Tentative on offense and a step late on defense, Gilas Pilipinas fell by five points midway in the opening quarter while allowing Iran's B team to score 23 points in the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament Thursday night, August 3, at Heyuan Sports Gymnasium in Guangdong, China.