MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas overcame a slow start and a fourth quarter uprising from Thailand to score an 87-72 victory in the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball on Thursday at the ZJU Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
Justin Brownlee top-scored for Gilas Pilipinas with 22 points to go with 15 rebounds and five assists, while Jaymar Perez contributed 16 markers as they recorded their second win in as many games.
Trailing by as much as 10 points in the opening quarter, the Philippine men’s basketball team slowly clawed its way back behind the efforts of Brownlee and Perez to take a 34-30 halftime lead.
Gilas Pilipinas went on to connect from the outside in the third quarter courtesy of Brownlee and Marcio Lassiter and attacks from Perez as the lead reached its largest at 20 points.
Thailand countered with a huge run in the final quarter as they cut the deficit to 63-68 but an inside hit from Angelo Kouame followed by connections from Brownlee and Perez widened the lead anew to 15 points.
Tyler Lamb led Thailand with 29 points, with 21 coming in the first two quarters, while Frederick Lish contributed 22 markers as they slumped to their second defeat in as many games.
Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas women marked their return to Asian Games basketball with a dominant 83-59 victory over Kazakhstan on Wednesday night at the SX Olympic Gymnasium.
From a 17-all deadlock in the opening quarter, the Patrick Aquino-mentored Philippine squad unloaded a massive 23-9 rampage in the second frame to break the game wide open.
Janine Pontejos led the way for Gilas Pilipinas women with 21 points, including seven three-point conversions, while Jack Animam contributed double-double 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Khate Castillo also made her presence felt for the Philippine women’s hoopers with 15 markers, as Afril Bernardino scored 11 markers, hauled down five rebounds, and dished out two assists./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 87 — Brownlee 22, Perez 16, Fajardo 9, Oftana 8, Thompson 7, Aguilar 6, Kouame 5, Newsome 5, Alas 3, Lassiter 3, Tolentino 3, Ross 0.
THAILAND 72 — Lamb 29, Lish 22, Muangboon 6, Morgan 5, Jakrawan 4, Klahan 4, Klaewnarong 2, Jaisanuk 0, Boonserm 0, Towaro 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 34-30, 68-50, 87-72.
