Brownlee lifts Gilas past Saudi Arabia in OT to seal FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinal spot

An undermanned Gilas Pilipinas weathered a fierce stand from host Saudi Arabia, carving out a 95-88 overtime win in their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualification to quarterfinals clash early Tuesday at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The Filipinos, who started out without the injured Calvin Oftana (ankle) before losing CJ Perez to an apparent ankle injury in the second period, banked on the heroics of Justin Brownlee to arrange a QF duel against two-time defending champion Australia.

Brownlee scored a team-high 29 points along with four rebounds, five assists, and one block to lead the way for Gilas.

The naturalized forward also came through in the clutch, drilling a cold-blooded three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Marzouq Almuwallad to knot the score at 79-all with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Saudi Arabia's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who had been scorching Gilas with his outside shooting all game, had a chance to win it for the Saudis but misfired on a desperation three at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

Gilas' young guns then put the finishing kick in the extra period.

Kevin Quiambao opened the overtime with a triple before Dwight Ramos split his free throws following a crucial unsportsmanlike foul called on Almuwallad before he completed a putback that made it an 85-79 cushion. 

Quiambao and AJ Edu sank a triple each to close out the game and help send the Philippines back to the quarterfinals after missing out last edition. 

Edu contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds while Quiambao also scored 17, six of those in OT. Ramos chipped in with 13 points and 10 boards.

"We gotta give a lot of credit to our defense. We know our execution. We came out in the overtime and we knew we have to be aggressive right away, and we knew we had to take control of the game," Brownlee said.

"I think everybody did a great job. It's definitely not going to be an easy road, but we're ready for any challenge."

Gilas had perhaps its best start in the tournament after building a 25-15 lead to end the first period, but Abdur-Rahkman caught fire in the second frame by unleashing four triples to allow Saudi Arabia to trail by just three at the break, 40-37. 

It became a tight affair since then with the Philippines and Saudi Arabia exchanging leads that saw the Filipinos take a slim 60-59 lead by the end of the third period. 

The Saudis, however, built enough separation and appeared poised to clinch their first-ever victory over the Philippines in FIBA history after Rahkman and big man Mohammed Alsuwailem joined forces for a 13-4 run that gave the hosts a 77-71 cushion with 1:33 left.

But the Filipinos resisted with Brownlee scoring the six of the last eight points in regulation, including the game-tying triple, to drag Saudi Arabia to overtime. 

The loss spoiled the 33-point outing from Rahkman, who's the third-best scoring player in the tournament, and the 26-point effort from Alsuwailem. 

The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas 95 - Brownlee 29, Quiambao 17, Edu 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.

Saudi Arabia 88 - Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.

Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79, 95-88 (OT).

—JMB, GMA Integrated News