By J. Jala | 10:40 PM October 06, 2023
For the first time since 1962, the Philippines will take home a gold medal in men’s basketball from the Asian Games as Gilas Pilipinas won against Jordan, 70-60, on Friday in Hangzhou, China.
Justin Brownlee was the Gilas Pilipinas’ hero as the Philippines clinched the first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal since 1962.
Brownlee topscored the nationals with 20 points, but it was Ange Kouame who brought the nationals to the promised land by constantly attacking the basket to score on crucial free throws that thwarted the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-powered Jordan side.
Kouame finished with 14 points to give the Philippines its first gold medal since 1962. Chris Newsome added 13 markers as the nationals exacted revenge against Jordan.
It had begun as a low-quality affair, Jordan reduced to firing in attempts from three-point range and going just 3-for-21 from field goal attempts in the first quarter.
But the shooting improved in the second, the Jordanians scoring with four of their nine attempts from outside the three-point line, even taking the lead just before half-time before Brownlee ensured the Gilas would go into the half level at 31–31.
The partisan local crowd at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium took to supporting the Jordanians, audibly jeering the Philippines’ free throw attempts. But the Gilas showed they were unmoved, Brownlee sinking three free throws after drawing a foul as he was lining up a shot from outside the arc.
Both teams continued to trade the lead in the third, and in the vein of the first quarter continued to try their luck from downtown, with the Gilas Pilipinas having more success in that regard than the Jordanians.
Finally, the Gilas managed to go on a 14–4 scoring run, pulling away from 37–37 to lead at the third interval by a clear 10 points. However, there was no escaping the fact that it was a low-quality, tense and nervy contest.
The closest Jordan would get from there was within six points, despite having the crowd’s vocal backing. The Gilas defence held strong, picking up boards on Jordanian misses, and ensuring their opponents never had a clean shot at the basket.
As the clock wound down, every basket, every defensive play, was cheered loudly on the Philippines bench; the long faces on the Jordanian one grew yet longer. The crowd, too, had grown tense and quiet, their chosen team to support fading under the pressure of the timer. Fouls became the norm as Jordan tried to regain possession, but it was to be for naught.
When the buzzer sounded, there were no big celebrations – just respect between the teams as they shook hands. Only then did the Gilas began jumping about in delight, and all that could be heard were Philippine cheers in the stands and on court. The Gilas had ended a 61-year wait for gold.
This is the country’s fourth overall gold in the Asian Games after pole vaulter EJ Obiena and jiu jitsu stars Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez. With reports from Olympics.com
