Gilas Pilipinas naturalized center Justin Brownlee in a Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers game at Philippine Arena. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas’ spirited comeback led by Justin Brownlee fell short as it bowed to Jordan, 91-90, to wrap up its Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers campaign on Monday at Philippine Arena.
The Filipinos rallied from 25 points down with Brownlee, who played just his second game for the national team, leading the way with 41 big points, but they couldn’t make all the potential winning shots in the final minute and a half.
After Brownlee put Gilas Pilipinas within one, 91-90, with 1:30 left, the Nationals missed several attempts to get the lead for the first time since the basket for 2-0.
PBA MVP Scottie Thompson muffed two crucial free throws with .30 ticks remaining before Ray Parks missed a game-winning attempt as the time expired.
“It was a nightmare start for us. Credit to Jordan, they came out very sharp. They prepared for us really well, and you saw that with the score in the first half,” said national team coach Chot Reyes.
“However, credit to our guys for not giving up. 20, 25 points down, and we still clawed back. We gave ourselves a chance to win the ball game.”
The Filipinos, already qualified for the Fiba World Cup as hosts, split their n0-bearing homestand after dominating Lebanon, 107-96, on Friday at the same venue.
Watch your head! Justin Brownlee over Zaid Abbas! 🚨#FIBAWC x #WinForPilipinas 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/V4OVxsiJac
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) February 27, 2023
Brownlee, who had a phenomenal debut weekend for Gilas Pilipinas as a naturalized player, unleashed five triples as he poured 17 points in the third-quarter rally that put the Filipinos within striking distance of Jordan, 70-64. He also had 12 rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Jamie Malonzo, who also put up solid numbers in the win over Lebanon, added 11 points for Gilas Pilipinas. Jordan Heading and Thompson had nine apiece.
“Anytime you come down 20 to 25 points like that and get that close to winning? Super disappointing. But you know, it probably happened for the better of our team, because we’re gonna come back stronger for sure,” said Malonzo of the failed comeback.
Jordan, which is already through to the global event here in August, came out of the gates firing and readily built a 41-16 lead on Zaid Abbas’ three-pointer barely two minutes into the second quarter.
Dar Tucker paced the visitors with 22 points along with 12 rebounds while Freddy Ibrahim posted 19 points and eight assists.
The Scores
Jordan 91 – Tucker 22, Ibrahim 19, Z. Abbass 10, Bzai 9, Hawwas 8, Alhamarsheh 8, Alhendi 6, Hussein 5, H. Abbass 2, Alnajdawi 2.
Philippines 90 – Brownlee 41, Malonzo 11, Thompson 9, Heading 9, Parks 8, Ramos 7, Perez 4, Fajardo 1, Amos 0, K. Ravena 0.
Quarterscore: 33-14, 60-41, 70-64, 91-90.