Gilas Pilipinas is headed into the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals — thanks to Justin Brownlee going in hero mode once again.
The Nationals will advance to the next round after they escaped host nation Saudi Arabia in overtime, 95-88, early yesterday morning at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Brownlee, as he has time and again, put the Philippines on his back and finished with 29 points — three of which came via a game-tying triple before regulation ended — on top of his five assists, four rebounds and a block.
Also standing out was young ace Kevin Quiambao, who posted 17 points with three assists and three steals. AJ Edu provided might on both ends of the floor with 17 markers, 11 boards and four assists, while Dwight Ramos came alive in OT to complete his 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and one block.
This was the second straight victory for the Philippines after back-to-back losses to open the continental meet, and it also sets them a clash versus no less than three-peat-seeking Australia.
The Gilas-Australia bout is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13 at the same venue.
With the Nationals down 79-76 in the last eight seconds of the fourth period, Brownlee wore his Superman cape anew, sinking a contested three-point shot to tie the contest and send the game to overtime.
The Philippines then took advantage of this opportunity in the extension, with Quiambao draining his own triple for an 82-79 lead, while Ramos, Edu and Brownlee also seized their chances to add to Gilas’ lead even more.
Still, it was only an 85-81 contest as Khalid M. Abdel Gabar converted his attempt at the 3:43 mark.
Unfortunately for Saudi, Brownlee made another deuce, while Quiambao and Edu drained dagger three-pointers for an 83-94 cushion — one that eventually proved to be all Gillas needed to avoid elimination.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia already had one foot out of the game as the Asia Cup hosts were leading 77-71 after Mohammed Alsuwailem made two of his many baskets inside with only 1:33 left in the contest.
Brownlee then completed a reverse three-point play, splitting from the foul line and then draining a mid-range jumper, to bring Gilas to within a possession, 77-74, at the 1:21 mark.
Alsuwailem then looked to impose his will on Saudi Arabia’s next possession but to no avail, and Edu took advantage of this by making a basket on the other end to bring the Philippines closer, 77-76.
It was Alsuwailem who made the play for Saudi again on their next possession, beating the shot-clock buzzer with a tip-in for a 79-76 lead.
However, they left too much time on the clock for Gilas, and Brownlee made them pay with another crunch time bucket.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led Saudi Arabia with 33 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Alsuwailem had an impressive 26-point, 14-rebound double-double. (ABS-CBN News)