Gilas Pilipinas heads to the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in high spirits after overcoming a huge deficit to defeat the Macau Black Bears, 103-98, in a thrilling send-off match on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite missing key players June Mar Fajardo and Calvin Oftana, the Nationals showed grit and composure as they turned a 21-point hole into a hard-fought victory—a promising sign as they prepare to fly to Jeddah for the continental tournament starting August 5.
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Brownlee Leads The Charge
Naturalized star Justin Brownlee sparked the comeback, pouring in 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, alongside 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Brownlee, returning from thumb surgery, also sank 4 out of 5 three-pointers in the final period to complete the rally.
“It didn’t look like we had a chance at halftime, but the credit to the guys for changing the tempo of the game,” coach Tim Cone praised his team’s defensive stand.
Dwight Ramos contributed 19 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while AJ Edu chipped in 15 points. Scottie Thompson and Kevin Quiambao added 10 and 15 points respectively, helping Gilas offset the absence of Fajardo and Oftana, who rested after a demanding PBA Philippine Cup run.
Defense Made The Difference
Gilas trailed 63-46 at halftime after Macau knocked down 12 of 17 three-pointers in the first two quarters. Cone admitted the hot shooting caught them off guard, saying, “They did surprise us with their ability to shoot. But give credit to the guys because they made a decision to defend.”
In the third quarter, Gilas unleashed a 33-point surge to narrow the gap to just two before taking control early in the fourth. Crucial baskets from Chris Newsome and Brownlee, plus a dunk from Edu with 41 seconds left, sealed the win.
Cone emphasized the importance of defense going into the Asia Cup: “We’re gonna make some nice plays, nice passes and nice things, but what is gonna win for us is our defense. That’s where we're gonna hang our hat on.”
The victory sends Gilas Pilipinas off to Saudi Arabia with renewed confidence, aiming to build on this momentum as they face Asia’s best starting next week.
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