Justin Brownlee once again delivered when it mattered most, steering Gilas Pilipinas to a thrilling 95-88 overtime win against host Saudi Arabia to secure a quarterfinal berth in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on Monday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Brownlee scored a game-high 29 points, including a contested triple with just 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation that forced the extra period. He also tallied five assists and four rebounds, spearheading a gritty Philippine squad that now advances to its first quarterfinal appearance in the current Asia Cup format.
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Fast Start, Fierce Response from Hosts
Gilas stormed out of the gates with a 25-15 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Brownlee, AJ Edu, and Kevin Quiambao. Even with June Mar Fajardo saddled with two early fouls, a smaller and well-spaced lineup gave the offense room to operate. Quiambao thrived in this setup, finishing the game with 17 points and three assists, while Edu anchored the defense and chipped in 17 points, 11 rebounds, and a block.
Saudi Arabia, however, mounted a strong comeback led by Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. His hot shooting, eight triples en route to a 33-point performance, powered a 14-1 second-quarter run that erased Gilas’ double-digit lead. Mohammed Alsuwailem also proved dominant inside, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds to help the hosts seize a late advantage.
Clutch Brownlee Forces Overtime
With the Philippines trailing 79-76 in the final seconds, Brownlee showcased his trademark composure. Rising over his defender, he drained a contested three-pointer to tie the game, sending Filipino fans into a frenzy and forcing overtime.
"They posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee), he's the big shot. And if you know his history, that's not unusual. He's been hitting big shots,” Gilas head coach Tim Cone said.
In the extra period, Gilas outscored Saudi Arabia 16-9, ignited by a timely Quiambao triple and anchored by defensive stops. Scottie Thompson, who posted four points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, provided crucial hustle plays that kept possessions alive and momentum in the Philippines’ favor.
The win improves Gilas’ record to 2-2 and surpasses their 2022 Asia Cup finish. Their next challenge comes Wednesday against two-time defending champion Australia, their first encounter since the 2018 brawl, in a high-stakes quarterfinal clash.
