GILAS PILIPINAS needed a miracle to beat host China and reach the men’s basketball final of the Asian Games for the first time in over three decades.

The Filipinos trailed for almost the entire game against the Chinese team eager to avenge a surprise 75-96 setback at the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila only last month.

The Filipinos were even 20 points down in the third quarter infront of a wildly-cheering Chinese crowd that included NBA great Yao Ming.

Then came Justin Brownlee. Answered prayers.

Brownlee came through with a game-high 33 points, including a difficult and pressure-packed three-pointer with 24 seconds left as the Philippines rallied to beat eight-time champion China, 77-76, at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre late Wednesday.

The win assured the Filipinos will get their first medal in the continental event since pocketing the bronze in 1998 edition in Bangkok, Thailand, also under current coach Tim Cone.

“This is special,” said Cone. “Twenty- five years ago, China beat me. And, I tell you, to this day that’s the only game where I cried. To come back here and get this victory now is to come full cycle.

It’s an emotional time for us and, I think, for everybody.”

“But I’m trying to keep an even keel because we got another game, and our goal still is to win the gold.

In the final, the Philippines will face Jordan, which defeated Chinese-Taipei, 90-71, in the other semifinal.

The championship game is scheduled at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 6.

“We said that from the beginning. I’m not sure we believe we’d get here, but we did say that from the beginning. We also kept saying we want to get back and play Jordan, so we’re back to play them. Now we’ll see what we can do.”

Brownlee, one of two naturalized players in the Gilas line-up, did it all against China.

The 35-year-old Filipino-American, who won six PBA titles with Barangay Ginebra from 2016-2022, scored 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, including five triples, as he almost singlehandedly carried the fight for the Filipinos.

Brownlee’s 17 fourth-quarter points were even three points better than the 14 points of the whole Chinese team.

His back-to-back three-pointers during a fiery 10-0 run in the final three minutes erased China’s 76-67 lead and silenced the home crowd.“

Those last two shots were like impossible. Guys were right on his face, and I thought there’s no way either of those would go in and both of them go…Boom! Boom! And I was like, wow, we have a shot

Added Cone: “Those last two shots…they’re unforgettable. People will remember them forever.”

After Brownlee’s heroics, China still had one last chance to steal the win with 24 seconds left, but Zhang Zhenlin missed his midrange jumper.

Reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson added 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while CJ Perez contributed eight points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo also had eight points and four rebounds.

Late addition Kevin Alas added five points, all in the payoff period.

After being held to only six points in the first half, Brownlee buckled down to work in the third period and scored 10 points as the Filipinos cut the deficit to 50-62 entering the final period.

Zhao led China with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

Hu Mingxuan, Zhu Junlong, and Wang Zhelin had 10 points each in the losing effort.

China will now play Chinese-Taipei for the bronze.

The scores;

Philippines (77) — Brownlee 33, Thompson 13, Fajardo 8, Perez 8, Alas 5, Newsome 4, Oftana 4, Kouame 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0, Aguilar 0.
China (76) — Zhao R. 18, Hu M. 10, Zhu 10, Wang 10, Zhao J. 9, Hu J. 8, Du 6, Zhang 4, Cui 1, Cheng 0.
Quarterscores: 17-19, 30-48, 50-62, 77-76.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya