 |
| Gilas Pilipinas claimed their 5th gold in the Asian Games Men's 5x5 Basketball event. PSC-POC Media Pool |
By Gil Moriones
MANILA—With 61 years passed since 1962, the national quintet of Gilas Pilipinas officially regained their dominance in Asian basketball as they beat in revenge the Rondae Hollins-Jefferson-led Jordan, 70-60, in the gold medal match, Friday night at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in the continuing 19th Asian Games.
The 26 percent (18/69) field goal shooting by Jordan reflected their overall groove, including their 22 percent (8/36) 3-point stat that made it difficult to complete their run compared to their first date in the group stage.
Hollins-Jefferson commanded the Jordanians and listed 24 points but was limited only to 28 percent (8/29) field goal stats and made only three from beyond the arc.
Gilas Pilipinas became fiery in the first quarter, but Jordan found themselves converting cylinders to force a 31-all deadlock at the end of the first half, erasing the 13-point lead of the blue shirts.
Scottie Thompson contributed 11 points, three assists, and five rebounds including his two converted attempts from trifecta, one of which started the runaway of the Philippines, breaking a 37-all tie with 6:18 left in the 3rd quarter.
The reigning PBA MVP showed his hustle breaks including his saved-the-ball scenario that located Ange Kouame under the basket to finish it off and his drive to the basket through his offensive rebound after he missed from the three-point line to fire up their lead into 10, 60-50 with 4:52 remaining in the 4th canto.
Kouame and Justin Brownlee recorded their Asiad double-double digits as Ange listed 14 points and 11 boards, and the Gin Kings import tallied 20 points and crashed 10 boards.
Chris Newsome, who was plus-17 in the game, shared 13 points.
This win versus Jordan sealed the Philippines' 5th gold medal in the Asian Games men's basketball event since 1951.
This year's conquest, however, is the latest in the accomplishments of the PBA's winningest tactician, Tim Cone, as he claimed his second Asian Games medal in his coaching career in guiding the national team.
For Jordan, this is its first podium finish in all of their five appearances, winning silver while host China settled for bronze after their win versus Chinese Taipei earlier Friday, 101-73.
With three days left before the Asian meet ends, the Philippines already claimed four gold medals, two silvers, and 12 bronzes, placing the nation in 16th place in the medal tally.
Before Gilas, Annie Ramirez strikes gold
 |
| Annie Ramirez was emotional after winning the gold. PSC-POC Media Pool |
Ramirez captured the gold by beating Kazakhstan's Galina Duvanova, 2-0, in the final.
A leglock late in the contest decided the outcome as Ramirez held Duvanova's leg long enough to merit the two points.
Despite getting a first-round bye, Ramirez had a tough road to the gold, only beating Vietnam's Ie Thi Thoung by an advantage in her first match in the round of 16 before edging Singapore's Fiona Toh, 7-0, in the quarterfinals.
Ramirez's only submission win came in the semifinals against the United Arab Emirates' Shamsa Alameri.
It was the Philippine jiujitsu team's second gold this year following Meggie Ochoa's win on Thursday.
Alameri bounced back by submitting Jordan's Yasmine Alami for the bronze.
Meanwhile, Kaila Napolis took home the bronze in the women's under-52 kilogram event by edging UAE's Hessa Alshamsi, 4-2.
UAE's other bet in the division, Asma Alhosani, won it all by beating China's Miao Jie, 2-0, in the gold medal fight.
THE SCORES:
PHILIPPINES 70-Brownlee 20, Kouame 14, Newsome 13, Thompson 11, Oftana 5, Aguilar 3, Alas 2, Perez 2, Fajardo 0.
JORDAN 60-Hollins-Jefferson 24, Mustafa 13, Al Dwairi 8, Alhamarsheh 6, Bohannon 4, Bzai 3, Hussein 2, Alhendi 0, Kanaan 0.
Quarterscores: 17-12, 31-31, 51-41, 70-60
With a report from Ivan Saldajeno
Follow him on X: @gilpuyatstation
.jpg)
