LIVE UPDATES: Hangzhou Asian Games October 7

It’s the last full day of competitions at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 7, Saturday.

The last few Filipino bets remaining in contention will try to hike the Philippines’ medal haul–which on Friday night reached four gold medals courtesy of Gilas Pilipinas’ basketball win–in the continental meet.

Asian Games medal tally, October 7 as of 10:20pm

Gilas’ Asian Games win ‘worth a thousand golds,’ says POC chief

HANGZHOU, China—After Gilas Pilipinas dismantled Jordan in the men’s basketball finale of the 19th Asian Games, Team Philippines completed the coveted mission of duplicating the gold medals in its treasure trove during the previous Asiad.

But for Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the Gilas triumph on Friday night means so much more.

“It’s worth a thousand golds,’’ beamed Tolentino the morning after the Philippines matched its output of four gold medals in 2018 Indonesia.

PH jiu-jitsu team wraps up Asian Games bid as Andrea Lao misses podium

HANGZHOU, China—Andrea Lois Lao dropped her bronze-medal contest against South Korea’s Hee Joo Choi that closed out the country’s successful bid in jiu jitsu at the 19th Asian Games here.

Choi took advantage of the penalties slapped on Lao, prevailing 4-0, in their battle for third in the women’s -63kg category on Saturday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium.

ASIAN GAMES: TEAM PHILIPPINES OCTOBER 7 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tab Baldwin praises Ange Kouame, Gilas’ defense after Asian Games gold

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin commended his former player Ange Kouame and Gilas Pilipinas after they won the Asian Games gold for the first time in 61 years.

The naturalized center stepped up when it mattered most for the Philippines as he dropped 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with 11 rebounds, five steals, and two blocks to beat Jordan, 70-60, in the gold medal match on Friday in Hangzhou, China.

EJ Obiena honored to get cheers from Chinese-dominated crowd at Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena not only earned a historic Asian Games gold medal, but he also won the hearts of the Chinese-dominated 80,000 fans at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

The World No.2 pole vaulter admitted that he was expecting jeers from the crowd with China bet Huang Bokai among his competitors in the pole vault final.

But surprisingly, the crowd rallied behind Obiena after he easily soared past 5.90 meters in one attempt to set a new Asian Games record in the biggest stadium he’s ever competed in.

Joy and pride for Filipino fans as Gilas wins basketball gold again

Filipinos roared in joy and relief as their men’s basketball team ended decades of heartbreak by winning its first Asian Games gold medal in 61 years.

Many in the basketball-crazy nation of 110 million people were glued to television and mobile phone screens as the Gilas Pilipinas eked out a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final in Hangzhou, China.

At a watch party at a university hostel in northern Manila, the crowd erupted as the last Jordanian rally flamed out.

Another podium finish for PH in jiu-jitsu

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𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Another ju-jitsu fighter of ours is up for another podium finish contention! Andrea Lois Lao will represent the country at the Women's -63kg bronze match after a win by submission in the repechage contest versus UAE!

Ipakita mo na #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro! pic.twitter.com/dOvlrqX9Th

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 7, 2023

Breanna Labadan competes in Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around

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𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Cheer for Breanna Labadan as she takes Team Philippines to the final stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around!

Congratulations and good luck, Breanna! Patunayan mong #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro sa #AsianGames2023!#PSCatWork#parasainangbayan pic.twitter.com/79kSmRu5oI

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) October 7, 2023

Japan beats North Korea for Asian Games women’s football gold

Japan was booed but kept its cool in an “interesting” atmosphere to beat North Korea 4-1 and retain its Asian Games women’s football crown on Friday.

The crowd of over 35,000 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou was overwhelmingly in North Korea’s favor and booed the Japanese players when they went on the attack.

After going in 1-1 at the break, Japan scored three goals in the space of six second-half minutes to silence the stadium.

Yao Ming slams China ‘slackers’ after Asian Games basketball flop

Basketball great Yao Ming branded China’s team “slackers” and warned they will struggle to qualify for future Olympics because of the “huge gap” with the world’s best.

The eight-time NBA All-Star, now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, slammed China’s performance after it lost to the Philippines in the semi-finals of its home Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The Chinese settled for bronze after defeating Taiwan on Friday, but it was far less than fans and Yao wanted.

Tim Cone-coached Gilas lifts Philippines back to Asian Games glory

A little over a month removed from a lackluster World Cup campaign and some 1,700 kilometers away from home, Gilas Pilipinas finally found a reason to celebrate.

The Nationals, hastily assembled and sent to a long and arduous route in the 19th Asian Games (Asiad), saved their best for last on Friday night and thumped Jordan, 70-60, to capture the country’s first basketball gold in over six decades.

“Our guys were just really disciplined tonight,” national coach Tim Cone told reporters before hurrying towards the team dugout at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China to join in the revelry after a campaign that will be talked about for ages.

Tim Cone’s defensive tweaks key to Gilas’ gold medal win, says Brownlee

MANILA, Philippines–A tweak on Gilas Pilipinas’ defense, according to its indefatigable star, proved to be the key in the Philippines’ 70-60 triumph over Jordan that delivered an Asian Games gold medal on Friday night.

“It was our defensive adjustments,” Justin Brownlee told reporters on the heels of his 20-point, 10-rebound outing in the men’s basketball final at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China.

“We defended them way better, and we defended them differently as well. Coach Tim (Cone) did a great job adjusting our defense and the way we wanted to guard them.”

Chris Newsome blessed with Asian Games gold after missed World Cup chance

One of the final cuts from the Fiba World Cup roster, Chris Newsome turned in a performance to remember on Friday night as Gilas Pilipinas clinched its first Asian Games basketball gold in a long while.

Newsome finished with 13 points while keeping Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to just 24 points on 8-for-29 shooting in the Philippines’ 70-60 triumph over Jordan at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China.

The Meralco Bolts star said his performance eased the pain of not making the squad that played in the global showcase hosted by the Philippines last month.

Annie Ramirez puts 2018 nightmare to rest with first Asian Games gold

Annie Ramirez can’t wait to frame her Asian Games jiu jitsu gold on an exclusive wall inside her room already stuffed with medals and trophies.

Although Ramirez had won in almost every major tournament she’d been to, retirement hasn’t crossed her mind yet.

“I haven’t thought about it yet, especially not now after winning the Asian Games,’’ said the 32-year-old Ramirez with her Asiad diadem, no doubt the most precious from among her collection.

MTB ace Ariana Evangelista denies dope use at Asian Games

Ariana Evangelista on Friday strongly denied any wrongdoing after the Philippines’ female mountain bike entry tested positive for a banned substance during her recent campaign in the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Breaking her silence since being named as one of three athletes that failed a doping test administered by the International Testing Agency (ITA), Evangelista apologized for the issue while waiting for the results of her B-sample following an appeal to clear her name.