Gilas Pilipinas earned their first Asian Games gold medal in 61 years with a hard-fought 70-60 victory over Jordan in the men's basketball finals in Hangzhou.
Justin Brownlee led the way with 20 points, while Ange Kouame shone with 14 points and 11 rebounds, powering Gilas Pilipinas to their historic win and avenging an earlier loss to Jordan.
Key players Chris Newsome and Kouame also stepped up, helping erase the memory of a 25-point defeat to Jordan in the group stage.
Gilas Pilipinas started strong with an 11-5 lead, but Jordan fought back, tying the game at 29-all.
In the crucial third quarter, Gilas Pilipinas surged ahead, thanks to Scottie Thompson and Calvin Oftana's three-pointers. Despite Jordan's efforts to catch up, Gilas Pilipinas held a 51-41 lead going into the final quarter.
While Jordan made a late push, clutch plays from Kouame, including free throws and a crucial jumper, sealed the 70-60 victory.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Jordan with 24 points but struggled with his shooting, going 8-of-29 from the field.
This historic win marks the first Asian Games basketball gold for the Philippines since 1962, a remarkable achievement for Gilas Pilipinas.
