Long-time PBA import Justin Brownlee and incoming college freshman Mason Amos made their mark in their first international cap as the Philippine men’s national basketball team blasted Lebanon, 107-96, in a no-bearing FIBA World Cup Asia Zone qualifiers game Friday evening in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The naturalized Brownlee, Barangay Ginebra’s regular import since 2016, topscored with 17 points, including five assists and two steals to lead Gilas while Amos, a Batang Gilas standout set to debut for Ateneo in UAAP Season 86, played a perfect game of 13 points off 5/5 shooting from the field.

A string of unanswered triples from Jordan Heading, Jamie Malonzo, and Rayray Parks set the tone to start the second quarter, erecting an insurmountable double-digit lead for the Philippines that was maintained throughout the game.

Aside from Brownlee, the Ginebra duo of Malonzo and Scottie Thompson anchored Gilas from both ends of the court, with the former La Sallian tallying 15 points and two blocks as a small ball center while the ex-Perpetualite had a modest but stat-stuffing five points, five rebounds, and six assists as the team’s top playmaker.

Veteran spitfire Amir Saoud topscored for Lebanon with a game high of 27 points while hulking center Hayk Gyokchyan added 21 points.

Lebanon, already qualified for the World Cup, played without Asia’s top point guard Wael Arakji and import Jonathan Arledge.

The world number 42 upset a Jordan Clarkson-led Gilas in the Beirut leg, 85-81, last August.

The Philippines, playing without top big man Kai Sotto and NBA veteran Clarkson, is currently 40th in the world, has automatically qualified for the August world tilt as co-host with Japan and Indonesia.

Gilas will have its finale against fellow World Cup-bound Jordan on Monday, also in Bocaue.

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