In the 2023 Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas secured their first men’s basketball gold since 1962 in a closely contested match against Jordan, characterized by low-scoring gameplay. The total points tallied by both teams amounted to a mere 130, marking one of the lowest combined scores in the history of the event. Once more, Justin Brownlee proved instrumental as Gilas’ leading scorer.
On the evening of October 6th, Justin Brownlee once again emerged as the hero for Gilas Pilipinas, leading them to their first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal since 1962.
Brownlee led the scoring with 20 points and played for an impressive 38 minutes and 25 seconds, contributing five assists and grabbing 10 rebounds. In a thrilling rematch against Jordan, the Philippines secured their 19th Asian Games Hangzhou gold with a final score of 70-60.
This victory marked the end of Gilas’ long medal drought, dating back to 1998 when they won bronze. Throughout the tournament, Brownlee consistently shone as the star player for the Philippines.
The game started with low-quality play, with Jordan struggling to make three-pointers and converting only 3 out of 21 field goal attempts in the first quarter. However, they improved in the second quarter, even taking the lead briefly before Brownlee’s efforts ensured that the first half ended in a tie at 31-31.
Despite the partisan crowd in Hangzhou jeering at the Philippines’ free throw attempts, Brownlee remained unfazed, sinking three crucial free throws. Both teams continued to trade the lead in the third quarter, with both attempting shots from beyond the arc. The Gilas Pilipinas found more success in this regard than the Jordanians.
In the end, the Gilas went on a 14-4 scoring run, pulling ahead from a tied score of 37-37 to lead by a comfortable 10 points at the end of the third quarter. Although Jordan attempted to close the gap, they could only get within six points, and the Gilas defense held strong.
As the game clock ticked down, every basket and defensive play was met with loud cheers from the Philippines bench, while the Jordanian team looked increasingly dejected. The crowd, too, grew tense and quiet as their favored team struggled against the clock. Fouls became frequent as Jordan attempted to regain possession, but it proved futile.
When the final buzzer sounded, there were no extravagant celebrations, just a show of respect as the teams shook hands. Only then did the Gilas players begin jumping in delight, and the arena echoed with Philippine cheers. After 61 years, the Gilas had finally secured their gold medal.
The quality of the game didn’t matter; what mattered was that the Philippine national anthem resounded throughout the arena, and gold medals were placed around the necks of the Gilas players.
Chris Newsome remarked, “Many doubted our abilities, but we proved them wrong.” Angelo Kouame added, “We fought for our country, and it’s an amazing win.” Earl Scottie Thompson expressed the significance of the victory, saying, “This is special for us, for our country. This is a very meaningful win because we made history.”
Justin Brownlee acknowledged the Filipino spirit and pride, saying, “We displayed it in this tournament. The Filipino heart toughened us up a lot, especially in this gold medal game.”
