Gilas Pilipinas members rejoice with their gold medals after defeating Jordan of their males’s basketball gold medal on the nineteenth Asian Video games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone requested for another nice effort from his gamers within the nineteenth Asian Video games. On Friday evening, he bought a efficiency that will probably be talked about for ages.
The Philippines rolled previous Jordan, 70-60, to rule the boys’s basketball showcase at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China and ship the nation’s first Asian Video games gold in over half a century.
Justin Brownlee was massive as soon as once more, scattering 20 factors for Gilas Pilipinas. Ange Kouame added 14, Chris Newsome had 13 and Scottie Thompson 11 within the effort that avenged a beatdown by the hands of the Falcons final weekend.
“Our guys have been simply actually disciplined tonight,” Cone instructed reporters within the din of the revelries. “It was only a good recreation by us tonight they usually (Jordan) had an off taking pictures evening.”
It was that preliminary spherical loss that pressured Gilas Pilipinas to play an additional recreation within the event. However trying again, the lengthy route afforded Cone and the squad simply precisely what it wanted for a no-tomorrow duel for the highest prize.
Gilas Pilipinas gamers carry their head coach Tim Cone following their win over Jordan within the males’s basketball gold medal match on the nineteenth Asian Video games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Picture/Lee Jin-man)
Gilas thrashed Qatar, survived Iran and surprised China to grow to be one cohesive squad worthy of taking down a well-oiled foe wanting to notch a milestone for itself.
That enchancment was in full view on Friday evening, because the Philippines managed to get pleasure from leads as massive as 13 factors.
“I believe we did a very good job recovering (Sami) Bzai, not letting him get a number of seems, and that was one of many keys,” Cone mentioned.
“I do know it’s no gold for Jordan. It could’ve been their first. Good for each of us,” he added with a smirk.
Each side began slowly in an error-riddled first quarter which the Philippines edged 17-12, however Jordan–looking for its first Asiad title–rallied to enter half-time stage at 31-31.
The momentum shifted again to the Philippines within the third quarter they usually took a 51-41 lead into the house stretch after which held their nerve for a well-known victory.
‘Larger than all of us’
Gilas Pilipinas members rejoice with their gold medals after defeating Jordan of their males’s basketball gold medal on the nineteenth Asian Video games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
By way of the win, the Philippines tabbed its fifth gold medal. The final got here in 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia, courtesy of a squad led by the late Fiba Corridor of Famer Carlos Loyzaga.
“It feels nice, man,” mentioned Kouame. “Everybody got here collectively and that was a fantastic staff effort. It means lots in any case these years, and that’s larger than all of us.”
Gilas Pilipinas’ final podium end—a bronze medal—was again in 1998, when Cone additionally referred to as the photographs.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 24 factors, however with Freddy Ibrahim the one different Jordan participant scoring in double digits, the Falcons needed to accept a silver—a feat by itself when ranged towards the nation’s measly 5 appearances within the quadrennial showpiece.
Newsome was assigned to protect the previous Brooklyn Nets starter and admitted it was a troublesome process.
“Man, everybody is aware of [Rondae Hollis Jefferson] is a beast. He’s a world class athlete, an NBA-caliber athlete. Coach Tim (Cone) gave me the duty to protect him at present and for me that’s a fantastic problem to see the place I’m at. I’m the kind to by no means again down from a problem,” he mentioned.
The Meralco Bolts star mentioned his efficiency eased the ache of not making the Gilas Pilipinas’ Fiba World Cup squad.
“Everybody is aware of I wished to be a part of that Fiba lineup, particularly (it) being at dwelling,” Newsome mentioned.
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“It hurts to get lower however I all the time stored telling myself that if this isn’t my time, then it’s any person else’s. So I went out and nonetheless supported (the World Cup) staff to the very best of my skills. God had higher plans for me and proper now could be the fruition of when God had different plans.” –with stories from Agence France-Presse
