MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas reasserted its might over its pool assignments in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. 

The Philippines decimated Chinese Taipei, 106-53, to complete a two-game sweep of the first window, with Kai Sotto and Justin Brownlee fueling a strong start on Sunday, February 25, at the PhilSports Arena.

Play Video

Must Read

Brownlee shines in homecoming game as Gilas Pilipinas blasts Chinese Taipei by 53

Play Video

Must Read

Not so ‘Batang Gilas’ anymore: Kai Sotto relishes growth beside Quiambao, Tamayo, Edu

Must Read

Mission accomplished as Brownlee thrills fans with rousing home performance

Must Read

Jamie Malonzo out sick after Hong Kong trip, says Tim Cone

Fourth quarter

• FINAL: Gilas Pilipinas sweeps the first window with a 106-53 beatdown of Chinese Taipei

• GILAS PILIPINAS 106-53: Kai Sotto with the exclamation point jam
• GILAS PILIPINAS 104-53: Cheng Liu with a tip-in
• GILAS PILIPINAS 104-51: Kai Sotto adds two more to his total
• GILAS PILIPINAS 102-51: Cheng Liu hits a three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 102-48: Calvin Oftana drills from downtown
• GILAS PILIPINAS 99-47: Hao Chi Wang drills a three

• GILAS PILIPINAS 99-45: Dwight Ramos adds to the pileup
• GILAS PILIPINAS 97-45: Justin Brownlee breaks away for the easy dunk. Timeout Chinese Taipei with 3:59 to play
• GILAS PILIPINAS 95-45: Calvin Oftana drills an open three to hit the 50-point lead barrier
• GILAS PILIPINAS 92-45: Cha Ho Chang and CJ Perez trade twos
• GILAS PILIPINAS 90-43: Carl Tamayo spins and scores the mid-range fadeaway
• GILAS PILIPINAS 88-43: Kevin Quiambao finds CJ Perez in the post for two

• GILAS PILIPINAS 86-43: Chia Ho Chang hits from mid range, ignoring Gilas fans’ fake shot clock countdown
• GILAS PILIPINAS 86-41: Japeth Aguilar hammers home his second straight dunk. Timeout Chinese Taipei with 9:04 to play
• GILAS PILIPINAS 84-41: CJ Perez finds a flying Japeth Aguilar for the alley-oop jam

Third quarter

• END OF THIRD QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas worsens the blowout against Chinese Taipei, doubling up, 82-41

• GILAS PILIPINAS 82-41: Carl Tamayo tips in CJ Perez’s miss
• GILAS PILIPINAS 80-41: Bing Sheng Lin sinks one from deep to stop the massive run
• GILAS PILIPINAS 80-38: Chris Newsome feeds Kevin Quiambao for two more inside
• GILAS PILIPINAS 78-38: Kevin Quiambao rattles in a three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 75-38: Carl Tamayo feeds a cutting Kevin Quiambao for two, plus the foul. He hits the bonus
• GILAS PILIPINAS 72-38: Justin Brownlee keeps it going with a tough one-hand fader. Timeout Chinese Taipei with 4:30 left
• GILAS PILIPINAS 70-38: Calvin Oftana joins the three-ball party
• GILAS PILIPINAS 67-38: Sin-Kuan Lin hits a corner three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 67-35: Dwight Ramos hits a floater
• GILAS PILIPINAS 65-35: Cheng Liu for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 65-33: Dwight Ramos darts in for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 63-33: Justin Brownlee with a thunderous dunk
• GILAS PILIPINAS 61-33: Zong Rong Hsieh hits from downtown
• GILAS PILIPINAS 61-30: Justin Brownlee passes up a three and contorts his way in for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 59-30: Justin Brownlee with a quick response three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 56-30: Hao Chi Wang drills a looping three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 56-27: Calvin Oftana puts back Kai Sotto’s miss
• GILAS PILIPINAS 54-27: Justin Brownlee with a quick two

First-half performers

• Kai Sotto – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
• Justin Brownlee – 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
• Sin-Kuan Lin – 6 points, 2 rebounds

Second quarter

• HALFTIME: Ya-Hsuan Hsieh sinks a last second shot for Chinese Taipei as Gilas Pilipinas powers ahead, 52-27.
• GILAS PILIPINAS 52-25: Cheng Lin finally gets something going for Chinese Taipei, sinks a short two

• GILAS PILIPINAS 52-23: Japeth Aguilar left wide open for the mid-range hit
• GILAS PILIPINAS 50-23: Justin Brownlee feeds Calvin Oftana for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 48-23: Japeth Aguilar gets on the board for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 46-23: Scottie Thompson scores inside after a Kai Sotto dump pass
• GILAS PILIPINAS 44-21: Kai Sotto with another conversion inside
• GILAS PILIPINAS 42-21: Carl Tamayo from mid range, Zong Rong Hsieh responds from deep
• GILAS PILIPINAS 40-18: Kai Sotto sinks two more inside
• GILAS PILIPINAS 38-18: Kai Sotto converts the and-one finish
• GILAS PILIPINAS 35-18: Kevin Quiambao sinks two charities
• GILAS PILIPINAS 33-18: Carl Tamayo sinks two charities
• GILAS PILIPINAS 31-18: Justin Brownlee hangs and hits after a Kevin Quiambao miss
• GILAS PILIPINAS 29-18: Ai-Che Yu drops two, Carl Tamayo responds from deep
• GILAS PILIPINAS 26-16: Sin-Kuan Lin sinks a three

First quarter

• END OF FIRST QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas doubles up on Chinese Taipei, 26-13.

• GILAS PILIPINAS 26-13: Chris Newsome drives inside for two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 24-13: Kai Sotto drills two from the line
• GILAS PILIPINAS 22-13: Dwight Ramos passes up the open three for an easy layup. Timeout Chinese Taipei with 1:33 left
• GILAS PILIPINAS 20-13: Dwight Ramos soars for the tomahawk jam as PhilSports Arena erupts in cheers
• GILAS PILIPINAS 18-13: Justin Brownlee rattles in two charities
• GILAS PILIPINAS 16-13: Jin Wei Gao hits from mid range
• GILAS PILIPINAS 16-11: Kai Sotto splits his charities
• GILAS PILIPINAS 15-11: Kai Sotto with a short turnaround jumper
• GILAS PILIPINAS 13-9: Justin Brownlee back-to-back easy layups
• GILAS PILIPINAS 11-9: Justin Brownlee cuts and scores inside
• 9-9: Cheng Liu ties it up from downtown
• GILAS PILIPINAS 9-6: Chun Chi Lin splits from the line
• GILAS PILIPINAS 9-5: Dwight Ramos sinks a mid-range shot
• GILAS PILIPINAS 7-3: Justin Brownlee left wide open for the corner three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 4-3: Justin Brownlee sinks a putback floater
• CHINESE TAIPEI 3-2: Cheng Liu drills a three
• GILAS PILIPINAS 2-0: Kai Sotto starts with two free throws

Starting lineup

• GILAS PILIPINAS: Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, Calvin Oftana, Dwight Ramos, Justin Brownlee
• CHINESE TAIPEI: Cheng Liu, Chun Chi Lin, Zong Rong Hsieh, Sin-Kuan Lin, Hao Chi Wang

Preview

It cannot be denied that Gilas Pilipinas gives Filipino fans so much joy every time it wins games.

And the Nationals hope to provide the same feeling as they shoot for a successful homestand against Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, February 25, to wrap up the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Fans are expected to pack the venue with a chance to witness the national team play at home for the first time in five months since the Philippines defended its turf against China to conclude the FIBA World Cup in September.

The battle against the Taiwanese also marks the homecoming game of beloved naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who missed action for the last four months since he led the squad to the Asian Games gold medal in October.

Despite his lengthy hiatus, Brownlee took charge for the Philippines in its 94-64 demolition of Hong Kong last February 22 with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.

Count on Brownlee to put on a show for Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra fans alike.

“We’re happy that he is back and we think he’ll play better against Taiwan and as we go forward,” said head coach Tim Cone.

Aside from Brownlee, the Nationals rely on the likes Kai Sotto to sustain his solid play as big men June Mar Fajardo (calf) and AJ Edu (knee) continue to sit out due to their respective injuries.

The 7-foot-3 Sotto frolicked inside the paint against Hong Kong, putting up a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds with 2 blocks.

For the visitors, Liu Cheng is expected to show the way after netting 20 points and 4 steals in an 89-69 loss to New Zealand in their Asia Cup Qualifiers opener.

Game time is 7:30 pm. – Rappler.com

Must Read

Ticket prices, how to watch: Gilas Pilipinas at FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers