Brownlee works magic as Gilas stuns KSA in OT, reach Asia Cup QF

MANILA, Philippines, August 12 ------ Justin Browlee bailed Gilas Pilipinas out for the nth time en route to the FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals. No stranger to miracles, Brownlee produced another one as he forced overtime, allowing the Philippines to score a gripping 95-88 win over host Saudi Arabia at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Brownlee drained a clutch three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to send the game to an extra period and finished with 29 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds for the Filipinos, who earned the right to challenge two-time defending champion Australia in the last eight.

The Saudis looked on their way to the quarterfinals after mounting a 77-71 lead with 1:30 minutes to play in the fourth quarter before their monumental collapse as the Philippines ended regulation on an 8-2 run, with 6 points coming from Brownlee. Saudi Arabia still held a 79-76 lead after Mohammed Alsuwailem narrowly beat the shot block with a putback with 8.4 ticks left only to witness Brownlee knot the score at 79-79 by shaking off Marzouq Almuwallad and hitting the game-tying trey.

Their foes rattled, the Filipinos outscored the Saudis, 16-9, in overtime to reach the quarterfinals three years after missing the final eight in the 2022 edition. AJ Edu delivered 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Kevin Quiambao chimed in 17 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals — the two young guns coming up big when it mattered most as they both drained key three-pointers in the extra session. Quiambao knocked down a pair of treys in 12-2 start that gave Gilas Pilipinas a 90-81 lead before Edu sank the dagger triple for a 93-84 cushion with under a minute remaining. Aside from hitting big shots in overtime, the Filipinos got the win by neutralizing the Saudis’ two-headed monster of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem.

Abdur-Rahkman erupted for a game-high 33 points built on an 8-of-14 clip from three-point range, while Alsuwailem dominated inside with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but they were limited to just 5 points combined in the additional quarter. The Philippines battles Australia on Wednesday, August 13.

The Scores

Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.

Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.

Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).

Source: rappler.com