An undermanned Gilas Pilipinas weathered a fierce stand from host Saudi Arabia, carving out a 95-88 extra time win of their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualification to quarterfinals conflict early Tuesday on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis in Jeddah.
The Filipinos, who began out with out the injured Calvin Oftana (ankle) earlier than shedding CJ Perez to an obvious ankle damage within the second interval, banked on the heroics of Justin Brownlee to rearrange a QF duel towards two-time defending champion Australia.
Brownlee scored a team-high 29 factors together with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and one block to cleared the path for Gilas.
The naturalized ahead additionally got here by within the clutch, drilling a cold-blooded three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Marzouq Almuwallad to knot the rating at 79-all with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Saudi Arabia’s Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who had been scorching Gilas along with his exterior taking pictures all recreation, had an opportunity to win it for the Saudis however misfired on a desperation three on the buzzer, sending the sport into extra time.
Gilas’ younger weapons then put the ending kick within the additional interval.
Kevin Quiambao opened the extra time with a triple earlier than Dwight Ramos break up his free throws following an important unsportsmanlike foul referred to as on Almuwallad earlier than he accomplished a putback that made it an 85-79 cushion.
Quiambao and AJ Edu sank a triple every to shut out the sport and assist ship the Philippines again to the quarterfinals after lacking out final version.
Edu contributed 17 factors and 11 rebounds whereas Quiambao additionally scored 17, six of these in OT. Ramos chipped in with 13 factors and 10 boards.
“We gotta give quite a lot of credit score to our protection. We all know our execution. We got here out within the extra time and we knew we’ve to be aggressive immediately, and we knew we needed to take management of the sport,” Brownlee stated.
“I believe all people did an excellent job. It is undoubtedly not going to be a straightforward street, however we’re prepared for any problem.”
Gilas had maybe its greatest begin within the match after constructing a 25-15 result in finish the primary interval, however Abdur-Rahkman caught fireplace within the second body by unleashing 4 triples to permit Saudi Arabia to path by simply three on the break, 40-37.
It grew to become a good affair since then with the Philippines and Saudi Arabia exchanging leads that noticed the Filipinos take a slim 60-59 lead by the tip of the third interval.
The Saudis, nevertheless, constructed sufficient separation and appeared poised to clinch their first-ever victory over the Philippines in FIBA historical past after Rahkman and large man Mohammed Alsuwailem joined forces for a 13-4 run that gave the hosts a 77-71 cushion with 1:33 left.
However the Filipinos resisted with Brownlee scoring the six of the final eight factors in regulation, together with the game-tying triple, to tug Saudi Arabia to extra time.
The loss spoiled the 33-point outing from Rahkman, who’s the third-best scoring participant within the match, and the 26-point effort from Alsuwailem.
The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas 95 – Brownlee 29, Quiambao 17, Edu 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79, 95-88 (OT).
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information