Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    Gilas Pilipinas opens Asiad medal bid with rout of Bahrain

    Brownlee and Co. off to hot start
    Sep 26, 2023
    Justin Brownlee
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    HANGZHOU — Gilas Pilipinas dispatched Bahrain, 89-61, for a rousing start to its campaign in the 19th Asian Games.

    The Filipinos poured it out in the second period when they outscored the opposition, 29-15, to take an 18-point lead with them at the break as Ange Kouame and Justine Brownlee took charge for the team.

    See Filipinas' 5-1 loss to Korea leaves Asiad fate hanging in balance

    They never looked back, easing to the early lead in Pool C.

    June Mar Fajardo

    Bahrain kept it close in the opening quarter, but began to crumble when Brownlee and Kouame, both playing in the quadrennial meet for the first time, began to assert their might.

    CJ Perez also came big with 15 points after finally being given the green light to play for the national team together with Kevin Alas, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Arvin Tolentino.

    Calvin Oftana, among the last cut in the Gilas roster during the recent FIBA World Cup, was the other player in double figures with 10.

    The Philippines will take a break on Wednesday and then goes up against Southeast Asian rival Thailand the following day.

    “We didn’t play Thailand in the Southeast Asian Games. But we saw them in the SEA Games, but we’re not matched up against them. They were knocked out by Cambodia,” said.

    The Thais went down against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jordan, 97-63.

    The scores

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    Philippines (89) – Brownlee 20, Kouame 15, Perez 15, Oftana 10, Fajardo 8, Lassiter 8, Thompson 5, Newsome 3, Alas 2, Aguilar 2, Ross 1, Tolentino 0.

    Bahrain (61) – Almoathin 14, Rashed MHA 13, Rashed AHA 12, Buallay 8, Melad 6, Chism 5, Hamoda 3, Al Haddad 0, Kadhem 0, Hasan 0, Al Hassan 0.

    Quarterscores: 22-18, 51-33, 72-47, 89-61.

    MORE FROM SPIN
    MORE FROM SPIN

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

      Read Next
      Watch Now
      Sorry, no results found for
      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
    • POLL

      • Quiz

        Quiz Result