Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee vs China defenders within the nineteenth Asian Video games males’s basketball competitors. –POOL PHOTO
Towards a China crew replete with Fiba World Cup veterans, Gilas Pilipinas seemed headed for a comfort recreation for the bronze medal.
However as soon as once more, Justin Brownlee had higher concepts.
The beloved naturalized ace, who took a backseat to NBA star Jordan Clarkson within the world showcase final month, fired 17 factors within the last interval together with the go-ahead triple with 24 ticks remaining as Gilas Pilipinas shocked host China, 77-76, within the nineteenth Asian Video games semifinals on Wednesday evening.
“Coach Tim (Cone), he informed us earlier than the sport to be one thing particular to win this recreation,” Brownlee informed One Sports activities on the heels of the comeback win that sealed the Filipinos’ place within the gold medal match.
That he was.
The Barangay Ginebra star completed with 33 factors to guide a fightback from 20 factors down towards the Chinese language and put the Philippines again to the place it wished to be for the reason that weekend: towards Jordan within the finalé this Friday evening.
Gilas Pilipinas celebrates semifinal win over China within the nineteenth Asian Video games. –POOL PHOTO
“We’d like to have one other shot at them, nevertheless, we have now to earn our method again to the Finals to see them once more,” nationwide coach Tim Cone informed the Inquirer following an 87-62 loss to the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led squad final Saturday.
That setback put them on an extended path to the rostrum, needing a qualification recreation to get to the playoff spherical en path to a semifinals showdown towards Group Dragon with 9 holdovers from the Fiba World Cup squad that performed—and misplaced to Gilas—in Manila.
Scottie Thompson had 13 factors and eight rebounds, whereas June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez added 8 every within the effort that assures the nation no less than a silver medal within the continental showpiece.
The final time the Philippines performed within the gold medal recreation was within the 1990 version of the Asian Video games. There, a pro-laden squad coached by Robert Jaworski settled for a bridesmaid end after a 90-76 loss to the Chinese language.
Ange Kouame struggled for many of the recreation, however made up for his miscues with some large performs that paved the best way for Brownlee’s heroics.
Kevin Alas was simply as key down the stretch, hitting a troublesome triple after which an excellent harder layup midway via the ultimate interval that stored China inside putting distance.
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.
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Quarters: 17-19, 30-48, 50-62, 77-76.
