The agonizing wait is finally over.
After 61 long years, the Philippines is the king of Asian basketball again as Gilas Pilipinas dominated Jordan, 70-60, in their championship match of the men’s basketball tournament in the 19th Asian Games on Friday night, October 6, in Hangzhou, China.
It was the country’s first gold since 1962, capping a stellar run that included a dramatic semifinal win over China.
Gilas won the championship and avenged its group stage loss to the same Jordan team by putting in a superb collective effort as it had four players scoring twin figures.
Justin Brownlee topped Gilas with 20 points, Ange Kouame added 14 points, Chris Newsome chipped in 13 points, and Scottie Thompson added 11 points.
Gilas appeared headed to an easy win when it took a 13-point lead in the second quarter.
Jordan, however, staged a major run and in a wink of an eye, the game became close and the first half ended with the squads tied at 31.
After their second-quarter meltdown, Gilas bounced back strong in the third period, holding Jordan to just 10 points while unloading 20 to erect a 51-41 lead.
Gilas was in control in the final period as Jordan failed to really make a serious run and stumbled to its lone loss in the tournament.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fired 25 points to lead Jordan but was just 8-of-29 from the field, including a dismal 3-of-14 from the field.
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