Jordan spoils late Gilas comeback attempt in last FIBA qualifying game

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Gilas Pilipinas lost a good fight.

Despite clawing their way back from a 25-point deficit in front of their thousand kababayans in Bulacan, the visiting Jordan squad got the last laugh and escaped the PHL national men’s basketball team in a classic thriller, 91-90, during the final FIBA World Cup Asian qualifying game last February 27, 2023.

The newly naturalized Justin Brownlee played his best game for Gilas so far and did all that he could, pouring in 41 big points but Ray Parks Jr. missed his last shot attempt off a spin cycle jumper with 5.6 seconds left to operate.

Gilas started flat offensively after only scoring five points in the first five minutes of the opening quarter.

As the Filipino hoopers struggled to buy a bucket, the visiting Jordan team stunned the Philippine Arena when they hosted a three-point party that helped them establish an early double-digit lead.

Jordan kicked off their campaign with four early three-pointers that opened a 16-5 advantage generated from their outstanding ball movement that collapsed the Gilas defense several times.

It was raining threes in Bulacan as the Jordanians drained two more shots from downtown to end the first 10 minutes with six made treys, extending their cushion to 17 points, 31-14.

Gilas’ head coach Chot Reyes reverted to his small-ball lineup that thrashed Lebanon during their previous game but their speed and quick switching still failed to contain Jordan’s waxing hot shooting.

When Jordan noticed coach Reyes’ adjustments, the coaching staff was quick to counter and ordered their wards to attack Gilas’ interior which opened up a 25-point lead with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Just when the Jordanians thought they already deciphered Gilas, Brownlee buckled to work in the third frame and went on a scoring frenzy to spearhead the national team’s comeback effort.

Brownlee erupted for 16 points in the third period alone that pulled Gilas within six points, 70-64, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Gilas then completed its rally when they closed the gap to within just a point, 79-78, courtesy of a Brownlee three-pointer that caused pandemonium in the Philippine Arena.

However, Dar Tucker, Jordan’s naturalized player, played big down the stretch and answered every Gilas bucket that helped protect their lead.

With 1:53 remaining in the intense ball game and Jordan leading by a deuce, 88-86, Jamie Malonzo equalized things up after a follow-up tip off a Brownlee missed trey.

Jordan answered back with a well-executed pick-and-roll play that pushed their lead back to three points, 91-88, but Brownlee quickly countered with his signature hook shot in the middle of the paint that pulled them back to within a point.

The Filipinos had the chance to ice the game and end their last FIBA qualifying window with a 2-0 sweep but Parks Jr.’s last shot attempt missed the banker off the left side.

“Credit to our guys for not giving up. We still clawed back and we gave ourselves a chance to win the ballgame,” said coach Reyes after the game.

Despite the loss, the Gilas national squad is still qualified for the main draw of the 2023 FIBA World Cup after accepting the hosting rights of this year’s global hoops edition.