Gilas Pilipinas overcomes China, returns to Asian Games finals after 33 years

Justin Brownlee waxed hot as Gilas Pilipinas made history, completing a comeback win against host China, 77-76, on Wednesday to return to the Asian Games gold medal match for the first time since 1990.

Gilas will have a rematch with Jordan and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the finals while China will take on Chinese Taipei in the battle for bronze.

China turned things around in the second period, unleashing 29 points while limiting the Philippines to just 13 to take a comfortable 48-30 halftime lead.

But Brownlee, who was held to just six markers in the first half, pumped life back to Gilas in the third period as he fueled a 13-7 run before a triple from him cut the Philippines' deficit to 10, 50-60.

He, however, missed two free throws that could potentially have made it an eight-point disadvantage as China ended the frame still up by double digit, 62-50.

Brownlee continued his torrid shooting in the fourth, waxing hot for three three-pointers coupled with a Kevin Alas bucket to slice the gap to just four points, 67-71.

But China has always found the necessary answer for every Gilas run as Du Runwang and Hu Jinqui sent China to a 75-67 lead with 3:07 left.

With 58.1 ticks left, Brownlee sank a triple before he soared over two defenders to bury the dagger, 77-76. China still had one full shot clock to manufacture a basket but Zhang Zhenlin missed out on his final attempt.

Brownlee detonated for 33 points alongside five rebounds and four assists while Scottie Thompson chipped in 13 markers, eight boards, and three dimes.

Gilas Pilipinas defeated Iran in the quarterfinals, Qatar in the qualification for the qualis, and.

In the group stage, the nationals opened their campaign with a win against Bahrain, followed by another one against Thailand, before falling to Jordan. 

With the win, Gilas Pilipinas is assured of at least a silver medal in the Asian Games, the highest placement of the Philippines in the Asiad since the 2002 edition in Busan where it finished fourth. 

Back in 1990, the Philippines fell to China, 90-76, to claim the Asian Games silver medal.

Prior to the Asian Games stint, the Philippines won over China in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, 96-75.  

Jordan, on the other hand, swept its preliminary games in the Asian Games before facing Saudi Arabia in the quarters where they won, 76-57, and went against Chinese Taipei, 90-71, in the semifinals.

Jordan, during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, lost all of its games against Greece, New Zealand, Team USA, Egypt, and Mexico. 

Hollis-Jefferson, who is part of team Jordan, is the reigning Best Import in the PBA Governors' Cup, and is still expected to suit up for TNT Tropang Giga in the upcoming Commissioner's Cup. 

The Asian Games basketball finals between Jordan and Gilas Pilipinas, and the bronze medal match between China and Chinese Taipei, will be played on October 6, Friday. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News