Philippines 5 back in promised land night to remember also marked by Jiu-Jitsu gold, bronze

HANGZHOU — At long last, the gold in men’s basketball.

And for the millions of basketball-crazy Filipinos, as far as the Asian Games is concerned, it’s the one that matters.

It’s the sport they really love, and the gold that they really longed for.

“Six decades,” Gilas coach Tim Cone, almost hoarse, said as he hurriedly walked past a row of reporters heading to the Philippine dugout.

It’s where the celebration would continue after the Philippine basketball team, denied of the Asian Games gold since 1962, nailed it more than a thousand miles away from home.

It came in the form of a 70-60 win over Jordan in the finale that lacked the excitement the Filipinos, and their fans, enjoyed after they beat host and 2018 champion China in the semifinals two nights ago.

The gold medal came exactly 61 years after the great Caloy Loyzaga steered the Philippines to victory in Jakarta where they went undefeated in seven games.

That was the last time Filipinos came home from the Asian Games with gold medals around their necks. From thereon, the gold proved elusive, and the Philippines could only show a silver in 1990 and a couple of bronzes in 1986 and 1998.

In 1962, there were Loyzaga, Bachmann, Arazas, Bernardo, Cruz, Jocson, Marquez, Nadurata, Pacheco, Ramas, Reynoso, Roque.

And now, there were Newsome, Alas, Thompson, Tolentino, Ross, Lassiter, Fajardo, Perez, Oftana, Aguilar, Kouame and Brownlee.

It’s an entirely different bunch of players. But now they have something in common. They are champions in the Asian Games.

Then there’s Cone, who just a week or two ago, wasn’t even sure if he could field a full lineup to this Asian Games. But they managed, and with some players who weren’t even supposed to be here, won it all.

Filipino supporters up in the stands started to celebrate after Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jordan’s main man, missed a basket with 55 seconds left.

Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua faced the Pinoy supporters and danced. The players on the bench began exchanging high fives.

It took a while before they let it all out inside the court. It was a victory they will never forget the rest of their lives. It was a night to remember.

The Philippines was in control from