PH wins Asiad basketball gold for first time since 1962

THE Philippine men's basketball team scored a 70-60 payback win against Jordan and captured the gold medal in the Asian Games for the first time since 1962 Friday night, October 6, in Hangzhou, China.

Naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee led Gilas Pilipinas with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Ange Kouame added 14 points and 11 boards while Chris Newsome chipped in 13 points.

Jordan's naturalized player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, on the other hand, struggled in the second half as the Gilas Pilipinas defense clamped down on him. He scored 23 points but only shot 7-of-27 (27.5 percent) from the field, including a dismal 3-of-14 (21 percent) from the three-point area.

Hollis-Jefferson waxed hot with 24 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds when Jordan scored an 87-62 win over the Philippines in the group stage.

Friday night's triumph was sweet revenge for the Filipinos and a triumphant end of a long title drought in the Asian Games.

WITH A REPORT FROM ARIC JOHN SY CUA