Cebu’s June Mar Fajardo of Gilas Pilipinas tries to put up a shot against the China defense in the semifinals of the Asian Games on Wednesday night, October 4, 2023. | PSC-POC Media Pool
Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a huge upset, coming back from 20 points down to stun host China, 77-76, in the Asian Games men’s basketball semifinals on Wednesday night, October 4, 2023, at the Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China.
The win meant that the Philippines advances to the gold medal match of the tournament, where it will face Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the rest of Jordan.
That game will be on Friday, October 6.
Gilas got to work in the final period behind the heroics of naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who hit the go-ahead step-back triple with 24 ticks left.
Brownlee led the Philippines with 33 points.
Scottie Thompson had 13 points, while Cebu’s June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez added 8 each in the effort that assures the Philippines at least a silver medal.
This is the first podium finish for the national program in the Asian Games since the 2002 edition of the meet.
The last time the Philippines played in the gold medal game was in the 1990 edition of the Asian Games. There, a pro-laden squad coached by Robert Jaworski settled for a bridesmaid finish after a 90-76 loss to the Chinese.
The Philippines currently has a 1-1-9 (gold-silver-bronze) tally in the Asian Games.
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