PH’s Gilas Pilipinas Wins Gold Medal in Asian Games after 61 Years
Philippine basketball team Gilas Pilipinas wins gold medal in 19th Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhuo, China after 61 years.
Gilas Pilipinas achieved a historic milestone on Friday night by securing victory over Jordan in the battle for the gold medal. The team ended a gold medal drought in the Asian Games that had persisted for six decades, emerging victorious in men’s 5×5 basketball with a final score of 70-60.
Once again, Justin Brownlee led the way for Gilas Pilipinas with an impressive performance, contributing 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. While the first half of the game had been closely contested, the Philippines managed to pull away in the third quarter, establishing a 51-41 lead.
In the final frame, Jordan attempted a comeback but fell short, as Gilas Pilipinas executed crucial defensive plays to secure the victory. Based on the report, Chris Newsome added 13 points to the team’s total, and Scottie Thompson contributed 11 points along with five rebounds. On the other side, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Jordan’s efforts with 24 points and 12 boards.
Justin Brownlee highlighted the significance of adjustments made to Gilas Pilipinas’ defense as the key factor in their triumph. He noted, “It was our defensive adjustments. We defended them way better, and we defended them differently as well. Coach Tim (Cone) did a great job adjusting our defense and the way we wanted to guard them.”
This gold medal marks a significant achievement for the Philippines, as it is their first in the continental meet since 1962 and their fifth overall. The last time the Philippines secured a gold medal in the Asian Games was in 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This victory follows their remarkable comeback in the gold medal round, where they defeated China in the semifinals with a score of 77-76 on October 4. With this win, the Philippines matched their gold medal count from the previous edition, achieving a total of four gold medals.
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