The national team defeated Jordan for the gold.
In a match on Friday, October 6, the Gilas Pilipinas squad retaliated against the Jordanians, who defeated them during the group stage in a match that ended 87-62. This time around, the tale had a different ending. But first, here is what went down.
During the first quarter, the Philippines claimed the lead early on and ended that quarter with a five-point margin, 17-12.
At halftime, the Jordanian team caught up and erased the lead, which resulted to a draw at 31-all by the end of the second quarter.
Third quarter, the Philippine team fired back and increased its lead to a secure 10-point lead over Jordan at 51-41.
By the fourth quarter, the gold medal has been much more apparent for the Filipinos as they maintained the upper hand in the match. Once the clock has stopped, a 70-60 win bestowed the gold for Gilas.
Our Gilas Pilipinas will bring home the country’s first gold medal in basketball since the 1962 Asiad, where the team led by Caloy Loyzaga had the fourth and last of the country’s first streak of golds in the sport.
Meanwhile, it is also the Philippines’ first Asian Games medal in the sport since 1990.
For the current edition, the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Gilas’ medal is the Philippines’ 4th gold, and its second today. Annie Ramirez clinched the third after winning in the 57 kg category of women’s jiujitsu earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the other two came from pole vaulter EJ Obiena — which got the Philippines’ first Asiad medal and first gold medal in three decades — and another female jiujitsu athlete Meggie Ochoa, who competed in the 48 kg category.