Gilas Pilipinas celebrates semifinal win over China in the 19th Asian Games. –POOL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes and Jordan Clarkson were among those who celebrated the Philippines’ first Asian Games final appearance since 1990 after Justin Brownlee anchored their amazing come-from-behind 77-76 win over defending champion and host China.
Reyes, who parted ways with the men’s national basketball program after their home campaign in the Fiba World Cup 2023 last month, took to Instagram to show his support to Brownlee, Gilas coach Tim Cone, and the whole team after advancing to the gold medal match of the 19th Asiad in Hangzhou.
“YES, YES, YES!!! GILAS wins ~!!! Congrats Coach Tim and the guys. Grabe ka, [Justin Brownlee]. On to the Finals!!!” Reyes posted.
Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes watching the Philippines vs China game. –CHOT REYES INSTAGRAM
“‘Purely heart. Purely Filipino Heart. Puso’ Special words from a special player. A month ago he could barely walk, but what [Brownlee] & the whole Gilas Team led by Coach Tim is showing is what happens when you don’t give up,” Reyes said in a separate post. “Down 18 at the half, 5 with less than a minute, doesn’t matter — just don’t give up. Call it Puso or Never Say Die, One Big Fight, Animo, or whatever – just keep fighting.”
NBA star Clarkson, who fired 34 points to finish Gilas’ World Cup stint with a 96-75 win over China, has one word to describe his team’s big win: Puso (heart)!
puso! 🇵🇭
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) October 4, 2023
Gilas player Chris Ross was also left in awe of Brownlee’s fourth-quarter explosion, describing his teammate’s stepback trey as “filthy.”
FILTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮 https://t.co/D86dlt6Dbk
— Chris Ross (@cmross6) October 4, 2023
Current national team stars Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena shared the impressive win of Gilas and Brownlee’s amazing game on their Instagram stories. Former Gilas players Gabe Norwood and Ranidel De Ocampo also congratulated the Asian Games squad ahead of its gold medal match against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jordan on Friday.
Wowowowow!!!
— Gabe Norwood (@GNorwood5) October 4, 2023
Gilas For Gold Medal game. Lets go team. 🙏🏾🇵🇭❤️ #AsianGames2023
— Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) October 4, 2023
BROWNLEE ‘BEST EVER’
Barangay Ginebra’s Jared Dillinger said his teammate’s performance “ will go down in the history books.”
JB will go down in the history books as one of the best to ever do it. That man is so cold 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Ax2SJEtY6h
— Jared Dillinger (@JDaredevil2) October 5, 2023
Browlee carried the Philippine team from 20 points down and then showed tremendous resilience down the stretch, hitting back-to-back clutch triples in the final 23 seconds to bail Gilas out. He finished with 33 points.
ASIAN GAMES | LOOK:
Sportswriters covering at the Mall of Asia Arena celebrate after Gilas Pilipinas take a heartstopping 77-76 win against host China to advance to the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball finals. 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/K7ap07Jvlk
— ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕡 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝 (@philipptionary) October 4, 2023
The Collegiate Press Corps, which covered the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball quadruple-header capped by Ateneo’s 77-72 win over La Salle, also celebrated Gilas’ historic victory late Wednesday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.