MANILA: Working double time for the second straight game, Gilas Pilipinas on Thursday night disposed of an unorthodox foe and advanced to the Final Four of the Fiba-Asia Cup against an old nemesis.

Using a 16-point lead as buffer for going scoreless in the last 5:09, the Filipinos pulled out a 70-66 victory over India to seal a semifinal clash with defending champion Iran at the Wuhan Gym in Wuhan, China.

It was the fourth straight victory for Chot Reyes’ intrepid Nationals, who started out cold and finished even colder against the taller and vastly-improved Indians before marching on.

“I am so disappointed with my team that I don’t have anything to say,” Reyes said in the post-game interview. “It’s a huge step back (in the development) for us.”

Rookie internationalist Paul Lee drained back-to-back treys that had the Philippines scampering to a 70-54 lead going into the final 5:09, but those would prove to be the last baskets for the Filipinos as the Indians came charging back.

The Filipinos committed a medley of errors from thereon, and even LA Tenorio couldn’t snap the long cold spell by missing two free throws with 27.4 left which could have given the Philippines more breathing room.

India only wasn’t able to get the job done after missing four field goal tries inside the final minute and the score pegged at 70-65. The Indians’ final point came from a free throw split by hardworking center Amritpal Singh, who was fouled by Marcus Douthit with no time left.

Lee led all Filipino shooters for the fourth straight game with 15 points. He also had five rebounds and three assists, while Douthit completed his first triple double of the tournament with 14 markers and 10 boards.

Ranidel de Ocampo was the third Filipino in twin digits with 13.

Singh paced the Indians with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Friday’s clash with the Iranians will be the first since the Filipinos lost in the Finals of the Fiba-Asia World Cup Qualifying match last August in Manila.

The Iranians, starring a young Mohammad Jamshidi and 7-foot-2 National Basketball Association veteran Hamed Hadadi, ripped arch-rival Jordan, 75-60, in an earlier quarterfinal match.

Gilas and the Iranians collide in the 5:15 p.m. game slated Friday before China and Chinese-Taipei dispute the second title game slot in the 7:30 p.m. contest.

The host Chinese were unforgiving in their Last Eight clash with Singapore, drubbing the enemy, 84-37, to take great confidence into their semifinal clash with the Taiwanese.

“We still need to finish the entire 40 minutes. There is nothing called an easy game in basketball,” said Chinese coach Wang Huaiyu after the lopsided win. “And don’t forget, this is a very young team, things can suddenly look very stupid.”

Chinese-Taipei is seeking to replicate an astounding victory over the Mainlanders in the Fiba-Asia Qualifying in Manila last August, scoring a 76-62 win over Japan.

Quincy David III, Taipei’s naturalized center, scored 14 but plucked down a tournament-high 20 rebounds. He will certainly be a cause of defensive concern of the Chinese in their game Friday.

Meanwhile, in a PBA development, newcomers KIA and Blackwater Sports will pick from the dispersal pool starting 2 p.m. Friday with the likes of former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, Larry Rodriguez, Nic Belasco and Alex Nuyles, among others, available.

Ildefonso was placed in the unprotected list by Meralco, while Rodriguez and Nuyles were made available by Rain or Shine.

Grand Slam champion San Mig Coffee has put 6-foot-9 sophomore Isaac Holstein in the pool even as several players who have been out of the PBA for at least the last season like Chester Tolomia and Reil Cervantez are also in the list.