The Philippines reasserted its heritage as Asia’s original powerhouse in basketball and boxing as the men’s national basketball team, popularly known as Gilas Pilipinas, and Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial barreled their way to the final of their respective sports in furious fashion Wednesday on Day 11 of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
In the nightcap, long time Ginebra import and naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee, helped by guards CJ Perez and Kevin Alas, scored eight of the Philippines’ 10-0 run in the final two minutes to grab the lead—for the first time and for good—to eliminate host country and long-time continental tormentor China, 77-76, in the hoops semis.
Climbing from a 20-point deficit early in the third quarter in what seemed to be a surrendered game, Brownlee, also helped by center Ange Kouame and point guard Scottie Thompson on the defensive end, scored 27 of his game-high 33 points in the second half, including the winning back-to-back triple that buried China’s hopes of a title defense.
On top of his scoring outburst, Brownlee shot a perfect 5/5 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter; Alas scored all of his five points in the fourth quarter and provided steady ball distribution; and Thompson was the lone star in the first half with 11 of his 13 points scored early and snatching three Chinese possessions in the second half.
Chinese spitfire Zhao Rui led China with 18 points, five boards, and six dimes for his team.
With the win, the Tim Cone-mentored Philippines will enter the gold medal match of the continent’s biggest sporting stage for the first time in 1990 and will vie for the biggest prize against group stage tormentor Jordan, an achievement they last achieved in 1962.
In men’s boxing, Marcial dealt Syrian foe Ahmad Ghousoon a cozy afternoon nap, hitting yet another crunchy right hook on the chin for a second round knockout in the light heavyweight semifinals.
Leading slightly in the first round scorecard at 3-2, Marcial unleashed a shattering body punch that crumpled Ghousoon on the mat, but the haymaker was ruled as an accidental low blow by the referee.
Seconds later, Marcial disposed his wobbly opponent in the 1:11 mark for his second straight knockout victory en route to a gold medal match against Chinese-Kazakh giant Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan tomorrow.
Furthermore, Marcial also grabbed an outright ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics with the win, joining pole vaulter and this Asiad’s lone Pinoy gold medalist EJ Obiena, as well as gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.
In track and field, the Philippine men’s and women’s team in the 4×400 m. relay placed fifth in their respective finals.
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