HONG KONG – Gilas Pilipinas kicked off its campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a dominant 94-64 triumph over Hong Kong  at the Tsuen Wan Stadium on Thursday, February 22.

Justin Brownlee delivered an all-around game of 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals for the Philippines as young gun Kevin Quiambao, the reigning UAAP MVP from La Salle, also impressed with 15 points.

Kai Sotto added a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Filipinos, who pulled away in the third quarter with Dwight Ramos also helping fuel the key breakaway.

The Philippines will take on Chinese Taipei next at 7:30 pm on Sunday, February 25, at the PhilSports Arena.

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Final stats

• Justin Brownlee (PHILIPPINES) – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists
• Kevin Quiambao (PHILIPPINES) – 15 points, 7/12 FG
• Kai Sotto (PHILIPPINES) – 13 points, 15 rebounds
• Shiu Wah Leung (HONG KONG) – 15 points, 5/8 3FG
• Oliver Xu (HONG KONG) – 13 points
• Duncan Reid (HONG KONG) – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals

Fourth quarter

• FINAL: Gilas Pilipinas opens the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on a high note as it crushes Hong Kong, 94-64

• GILAS PILIPINAS 94-64: Ricky Yang and Justin Brownlee exchange baskets
• GILAS PILIPINAS 92-61: Kevin Quiambao tips in Justin Brownlee’s miss
• GILAS PILIPINAS 90-61: Kevin Quiambao scores again, this time from beyond the arc
• GILAS PILIPINAS 87-61: Kevin Quiambao side steps and scores
• GILAS PILIPINAS 85-61: Justin Brownlee feeds the cutting Kevin Quiambao for a teardrop
• GILAS PILIPINAS 83-61: Oliver Xu hits a jumper after the timeout
• GILAS PILIPINAS 83-59: Duncan Reid for three, Kevin Quiambao floats one in
• GILAS PILIPINAS 81-56: CJ Perez blows by the defense and scores, Japeth Aguilar adds two more inside
• GILAS PILIPINAS 77-56: Chris Newsome and Sui Hung Yeung trade mid-range jumpers
• GILAS PILIPINAS 75-54: Japeth Aguilar nails a short stab
• GILAS PILIPINAS 73-54: Sui Hung Yeung and Duncan Reid with four quick points for Hong Kong
• GILAS PILIPINAS 73-49: Jamie Malonzo scores on the break, Shiu Wah Leung counters with a trey

Third quarter

• END OF 3Q: Gilas Pilipinas finishes the third quarter on a fiery 18-1 run for a comfortable 71-46 cushion over Hong Kong
• GILAS PILIPINAS 71-46: Chris Newsome joins the Philippines’ three-point party
• GILAS PILIPINAS 68-46: Jamie Malonzo rattles in a corner trey off another assist by Scottie Thompson
• GILAS PILIPINAS 65-46: Oliver Xu ends Hong Kong’s drought with a free throw
• GILAS PILIPINAS 65-45: Chris Newsome makes it a 20-point game after a layup in transition
• GILAS PILIPINAS 63-45: Jamie Malonzo hits a technical free throw
• GILAS PILIPINAS 62-45: Scottie Thompson lobs it up to Kai Sotto
• GILAS PILIPINAS 60-45: Scottie Thompson kicks it out to Dwight Ramos for a corner trey
• GILAS PILIPINAS 57-45: Justin Brownlee with an easy bucket in transition off an assist by Dwight Ramos
• GILAS PILIPINAS 55-45: Dwight Ramos spins and scores
• GILAS PILIPINAS 53-45: Sui Hung Yeung nails two free throws
• GILAS PILIPINAS 53-43: Ricky Yang drops it off to Duncan Reid for a layup
• GILAS PILIPINAS 53-41: Calvin Oftana extends the Philippines’ lead to double-digits after completing an and-one play
• GILAS PILIPINAS 50-41: Duncan Reid scores over Kai Sotto, Scottie Thompson answers with a layup
• GILAS PILIPINAS 48-39: Kai Sotto adds two more from the stripe
• GILAS PILIPINAS 46-39: Justin Brownlee connects from long distance
• GILAS PILIPINAS 43-39: Oliver Xu scores off a goaltend
• GILAS PILIPINAS 43-37: Kai Sotto starts the second half with two free throws

First-half performers

• Justin Brownlee (PHILIPPINES) – 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• Kai Sotto (PHILIPPINES) – 7 points, 8 rebounds
• Dwight Ramos (PHILIPPINES) – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists
• Shiu Wah Leung (HONG KONG) – 12 points, 4/6 3FG
• Oliver Xu (HONG KONG) – 8 points
• Sui Hung Yeung (HONG KONG) – 5 points, 5 rebounds

Second quarter

• HALFTIME: Hong Kong’s offense comes alive in the second quarter as Gilas Pilipinas keeps a slim 41-37 lead

• GILAS PILIPINAS 41-37: Oliver Xu with a last-second layup
• GILAS PILIPINAS 41-35: Kai Sotto goes perfect from the line
• GILAS PILIPINAS 39-35: Chi Lok Jolin So hits a triple off the timeout, Justin Brownlee answers with a two
• GILAS PILIPINAS 37-32: Kai Sotto skies for an emphatic putback jam
• GILAS PILIPINAS 35-32: Justin Brownlee sinks a mid-range hit
• GILAS PILIPINAS 33-32: Lung Tak Tsoi tip in is good
• GILAS PILIPINAS 33-30: Justin Brownlee knocks down two freebies
• GILAS PILIPINAS 31-30: Kevin Quiambao cleans up Jamie Malonzo’s miss
• HONG KONG 30-29: Duncan Reid and Sui Hung Yeung with back-to-back hits
• GILAS PILIPINAS 29-25: Kevin Quiambao dishes it to Carl Tamayo for a wide-open finish
• GILAS PILIPINAS 27-25: Jamie Malonzo puts the Philippines back on top with a long two
• 25-25: Oliver Xu ties it up with two charities
• GILAS PILIPINAS 25-23: Shiu Wah Leung still on fire as he cans another three-pointer
• GILAS PILIPINAS 25-20: Kevin Quiambao checks in and scores immediately
• GILAS PILIPINAS 23-20: Duncan Reid goes 1/2 from the line
• GILAS PILIPINAS 23-19: 4-0 run by Hong Kong to open the second quarter as Sui Hung Yeung scores over Japeth Aguilar
• GILAS PILIPINAS 23-17: Ricky Yang gets the tough layup to go

First quarter

• END OF 1Q: Gilas Pilipinas finds the early touch from beyond the arc for a 23-15 lead over Hong Kong

• GILAS PILIPINAS 23-15: Shiu Wah Leung sinks a buzzer-beating triple
• GILAS PILIPINAS 23-12: Japeth Aguilar scores underneath
• GILAS PILIPINAS 21-12: CJ Perez joins the three-ball party
• GILAS PILIPINAS: 18-12: Shiu Wah Leung and Jamie Malonzo exchange treys
• GILAS PILIPINAS 15-9: Kai Sotto splits his foul shots
• GILAS PILIPINAS 14-9: Oliver Xu lays it in on the break
• GILAS PILIPINAS 14-7: Justin Brownlee counters with his own long bomb
• GILAS PILIPINAS 11-7: Shiu Wah Leung fires and hits from deep
• GILAS PILIPINAS 11-4: Dwight Ramos drives hard and scores
• GILAS PILIPINAS 9-4: Oliver Xu drains two free throws
• GILAS PILIPINAS 9-2: Lung Tak Tsoi finally puts Hong Kong on the board with a putback
• GILAS PILIPINAS 9-0: Dwight Ramos gets on the board off a reverse layup
• GILAS PILIPINAS 7-0: Scottie Thompson keeps the Philippines’ run going with a triple
• GILAS PILIPINAS 4-0: Kai Sotto slams it home
• GILAS PILIPINAS 2-0: Justin Brownlee feeds the cutting Calvin Oftana for an easy deuce

Starting lineup

• GILAS PILIPINAS: Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Calvin Oftana, Justin Brownlee, Kai Sotto
• HONG KONG: Shiu Wah Leung, Ricky Yang, Oliver Xu, Duncan Reid, Lung Tak Tsoi

Preview

Gilas Pilipinas’ four-year quest begins as it battles Hong Kong on the road to open the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the Tsuen Wan Stadium on Thursday, February 22.

Hoping to lead the national team to greater heights, coach Tim Cone looks to steer the Filipinos to a promising start in the tournament that consists of three windows against a Hong Kong side seeking to pull off a major upset.

Beating host Hong Kong, ranked 119th in the world, should be a doable job for No. 38 Philippines.

Expect Cone and his charges, though, to be all business as they aim to build good habits for their other battles this year and beyond.

“We have a vision. I think everything starts with a vision. Now that we have a vision, we have a goal in mind, it is all about the process of how we get there,” said Cone.

The game marks the return of naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who is back in action after leading the Nationals to the Asian Games crown in Hangzhou, China, in October.

Brownlee has not played competitively since he failed a doping test in the Asian Games as he served a voluntary suspension that lasted three months.

The three-time PBA Best Import teams up with Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and late addition Japeth Aguilar.

A national team veteran, Aguilar got tapped to reinforce the squad in the first window as big men June Mar Fajardo (calf) and AJ Edu (knee) sit out due to their respective injuries.

After the Hong Kong game, the Filipinos return home to host Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on February 25.

Two more windows await in November and February next year as the Philippines aims to qualify for the Asia Cup for the eighth straight edition.

Game time is 8 pm. – Rappler.com

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