FOR the second day in a row, the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team narrowly got itself out from the jaws of defeat with another heart-pounding win.
This time, however, it was against Asian basketball powerhouse and Asian Games defending champ China via a nail-biting 77-76 win during the semifinal round at the Hangzhou Olympic Center.
It was the same scenario, where one team had to claw back from a seemingly insurmountable lead. In its quarterfinal bout against Iran, Gilas led by as many as 21 points, only to slightly falter towards the end game, though it still managed to eke out an 84-83 victory.
This time, however, it was the turn of Gilas to play catch up. Luckily, naturalized player and Barangay Ginebra resident import Justin “Noypi” Brownlee displayed the vaunted “Never Say Die” spirit by sinking two straight three-pointers during the dying seconds to take the fight out of the Chinese, much to the dismay of the highly partisan crowd.
Brownlee finished with 33 points, five boards and four dimes, with reigning Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson scattering 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The team will have a full day of rest before they face early tormentor Jordan led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the gold medal match on Friday, October 6, 2023.
This will also be the first time in 33 years that the Philippines will enter the finals of men’s basketball, the last time was during the 11th Asian Games in Beijing, China.