Gilas Pilipinas secured a commanding 106-53 victory over visiting Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday night.
This victory, coupled with their earlier win against Hong Kong, propelled the national basketball program to a 2-0 start, setting the stage for their pursuit of a spot in the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Justin Brownlee, the naturalized ace, delivered another outstanding performance, tallying 26 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kai Sotto played a pivotal role with 18 points and eight rebounds, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
The victory marked a return for Brownlee, who expressed his joy at being back in the Philippines and playing in front of passionate fans.
“I missed the fans more than anything. I just missed seeing the smiles and just being able to make them cheer and just seeing their passion for the game,” said Brownlee.
National coach Tim Cone praised the team’s performance but emphasized the need for continued hard work.
“We just want to go out there to work, but we also realized we have a lot of work ahead of us and a long way to go,” Cone stated, looking ahead to the challenging Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, scheduled for July.
Calvin Oftana added 13 points, Carl Tamayo contributed 11, and Dwight Ramos and Kevin Quiambao chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Nationals demonstrated remarkable teamwork, turning a shaky start in Hong Kong four nights ago into a decisive victory.
Gilas Pilipinas showcased their dominance, leading by as many as 54 points in their first home game since the FIBA World Cup.
Despite missing Jamie Malonzo due to a medical issue and playing with a short rotation of 11 men, the team displayed resilience and unity.
Chinese Taipei, without their naturalized player Jonah Morrison, had Cheng Liu as the leading scorer with 13 points.
The victory not only solidified Gilas Pilipinas’ position in Group B of the continental showcase but also built crucial momentum as they gear up for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in their quest for a spot in the Summer Games in Paris, France, scheduled for August.
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