MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas got a huge lift from its debutants as they walloped Lebanon, 107-96, in the sixth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers last night at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Justin Brownlee made his national men’’s basketball team debut with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds, while Mason Amos played his first game as a Gilas Pilipinas senior with 13 points, on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
Jamie Malonzo also made his presence felt with 15 markers, while Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Jordan Heading each ended with 10 markers for the national squad.
Both teams traded leads early in the contest until Brownlee uncorked back-to-back triples as the Gilas surged to a 14-8 edge but it was quickly tied at 15-all by the three-point connections by Lebanon.
Back-to-back three-pointers from June Mar Fajardo and Malonzo followed by inside shots from Parks Jr. and Malonzo gave the Philippine squad a 25-19 edge to end the first period.
Gilas Pilipinas got consecutive shots from Parks and Heading to start the second quarter as the lead swelled to 36-19 before Lebanon slightly trimmed to 24-37 midway in the period.
Lebanon pulled even closer at 33-45 but a three-pointer by Perez followed by inside attacks from Brownlee and Earl Scottie Thompson and back-to-back dunks by Brownlee gave Philippines a 53-41 halftime lead.
Lebanon threatened to claw back early in the third quarter but Gilas Pilipinas quickly answered with a Malonzo dunk, a triple by Ramos and three outside shots from Amos as the lead grew to 82-64.
Gilas Pilipinas went on to build its largest lead of 23 points in the final quarter on back-to-back treys by Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena. Lebanon made its last push at 99-85 but a Malonzo trey sealed the win for the home team.
Amir Saoud top-scored with 27 points, including four outside shots, while Hayk Gyokchyan and Sergio El Darwich chipped in 21 and 19 markers for Lebanon, which played minus its star gunner Waek Arakji./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 107 — Brownlee 17, Malonzo 15, Amos 13, Ramos 10, Parks 10, Heading 10, Fajardo 9, Perez 8, K. Ravena 8, Thompson 5, T. Ravena 2, Oftana 0.
LEBANON 96 — Saoud 27, Gyokchyan 21, Darwich 19, Zeinoun 14, Khouiery 6, Mansour 6, Hadidian 3, Salibi 0, Khalil 0, Mesher 0, Rabay 0.
Quarterscores: 25-19, 53-41, 82-64, 107-96.
