August 12, 2025 | 12:33pm
MANILA, Philippines — Justin Brownlee’s heroics have saved each Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra time and time once more.
This was evident anew within the Philippines’ 95-88 win over Saudi Arabia of their qualification-to-the-quarterfinal match within the FIBA Asia Cup early Tuesday morning (Manila time).
There, Brownlee led the cost for Gilas to pressure additional time in Jeddah.
The Nationals have been trailing by six, 71-77, with lower than a minute and 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
However Brownlee sparked the comeback in regulation, scoring six of Gilas’ 8-2 run to pressure additional time.
A putback by Saudi’s Mohammed Alsuwailem gave the house crew a 79-76 benefit with 8.4 seconds remaining. Within the subsequent possession, Brownlee acquired the ball and sized up Marzoup Almuwallad.
And because the naturalized participant went to the 3-point line, he shook off his defender and made area as he pulled the set off and made the basket.
This was simply what the Philippines wanted, as they pulled away in additional time due to the spark offered by Kevin Quiambao.
After the sport, Gilas head coach Tim Cone stated that now, he isn’t shocked with Brownlee’s heroics since he has seen it time and time once more.
“By all rights, [Saudi] had the sport received, apart from the man sitting to my proper. He hits the massive shot,” Cone, who additionally coaches Brownlee with the Gin Kings, advised reporters.
“And if you realize his historical past, that is commonplace. He is been hitting huge photographs. I am his coach and his membership crew. And once we performed within the Asian Video games, he was hitting huge photographs on a regular basis. So that is nothing overseas to Justin,” he added.
Brownlee additionally towed the Philippines again within the come-from-behind win over China within the 2023 Asian Video games. He hit a number of large 3-pointers in that recreation, which successfully set the trail for Gilas to win its first males’s basketball gold medal in 61 years.
Cone stated that he ran a really acquainted play for Brownlee, which was much like the photographs he hit again within the PBA, together with one in opposition to the Meralco Bolts that gave Ginebra its first championship in six years.
“You realize, we simply ran an previous play for Justin that he is accustomed to. And we acquired the swap that we wished. Bought somewhat smaller man on him and he was in a position to get a shot up excessive,” he stated.
“It is precisely the identical play we ran just a few years in the past to win a championship within the membership stage. So he was accustomed to it and that type of spearheaded us ahead as soon as we acquired to the additional time, the momentum on that shot.”
For his half, Brownlee stated that such a efficiency is what “each participant goals of.”
“I simply suppose if you see the chance as a participant, you simply acquired to go after it. You realize, it at all times, it does not at all times work in your favor. Clearly, you’ll be able to’t make each shot or make the most effective out of each second. However, you realize, you simply acquired to have braveness and take these alternatives,” he stated.
“However, you realize, you simply acquired to have braveness and take these alternatives. And, you realize, I am simply very blessed to be within the alternative to have the ability to hit these photographs. However I acquired to thank my teammates. They acquired quite a lot of confidence in me.”
Gilas led by 10 factors within the first quarter earlier than the house crew roared again.
The 2 squads traded leads all through the sport, earlier than their late six level benefit that appeared to be an excessive amount of to beat.
However Brownlee’s heroics introduced the Philippines again from nearly being despatched dwelling.
“The emotion from [Brownlee’s] shot propelled us via the additional time. However, you realize, simply actually happy with our guys. Yeah, we did not stop, you realize, we had some leads that we gave up, however they did not stop both, you realize. So once more, that is why it was an epic recreation. Each groups battled to the very finish. It was an incredible recreation,” Cone stated.
Gilas will now attempt to shoot for a spot within the semifinals, however will probably be a troublesome street forward because it takes on World No. 7 Australia.
Tip-off is on Wednesday, 7 p.m. (Manila time).
