As Gilas Pilipinas closed its China pocket tournament with back-to-back wins against Senegal and Iran Team B, national coach Chot Reyes had to remind his wards the importance of 'playing their best every single game' if they even want to entertain the thought of winning a game in the coming FIBA World Cup.

The Filipinos got off to a hot start against the Iranians, struggled to score in the middle quarters, before regaining their bearings in the last period on the way to holding off the West Asian basketball squad, 63-48 at the close of the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament on Monday night in Guangdong, China.