Gilas Pilipinas obtained a well timed enhance with the entry of naturalized participant Justin Brownlee because the nationwide group defended their residence soil in opposition to Lebanon within the sixth and closing window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Friday on the Philippine Arena.
Brownlee led the Filipinos with a team-high 17 factors alongside 5 assists and 4 rebounds as Gilas posted a 107-96 victory over the Cedars, who had overwhelmed them within the earlier window and within the FIBA Asia Cup.
With Brownlee main the pack, the Philippines cruised to a wire-to-wire win to enhance to 6-3 in Group E.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, although, harassed it isn’t Brownlee’s expertise that make him distinctive and a stellar participant. For the veteran tactician, it is Brownlee’s capability to make the folks round him higher.
“Of all Justin’s skills, he shoots the ball well, he defends, he’s got a lot of technical skills. But the one skill, for me, that I appreciate if [he’s a] great teammate and a great teammate makes his teammates better,” Reyes stated.
“So for me that’s his greatest skill.”
That was confirmed true as 5 different Gilas gamers reached double-digit scoring to steer the Philippines to the win.
Brownlee’s Ginebra teammate Jamie Malonzo listed 15 factors, highlighted by a number of dunks whereas debuting younger star Mason Amos collected 13 markers on excellent 3-of-3 from the three-point territory. Jordan Heading, Ray Parks, and Dwight Ramos all chimed in with 10 factors apiece to contribute to Gilas’ hot-shooting outing.
Reyes stated Brownlee’s addition to Gilas made up for all of the failures the nationwide group had endured previously.
“I think when I reflect, I always believe that things happen for a reason and I think all of the challenges that we went through very early when I was appointed as a coach, I think the reason for that was for the entire country to get together,” he stated.
“And so we’re very thankful to the Senate and the Congress, the PBA, all the stakeholders for getting together and finally getting Justin’s papers done. And maybe that’s the reason for all the heartaches that we had to endure in the past because finally everyone finally came together.”
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
