JUSTIN Brownlee and Kai Sotto delivered performances to remember in front of home fans as Gilas Pilipinas routed Chinese Taipei, 106-53, on Sunday in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers at the Philsports Arena.
Brownlee had 26 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in the country since leading Gilas to a gold medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, sparking an unexpected 53-point rout against a longtime regional rival.
Sotto, on the other hand, put on an impressive all-around effort with 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks to help Gilas end the first window of the Asia qualifiers with a 2-0 record in Group B, joining fellow undefeated New Zealand on top of the standings.
“I really like the way we worked. We worked hard on both sides of the floor and did that for 40 minutes,” said Cone.
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The emphatic win came as a huge follow-up to its 94-64 road victory over Hong Kong last Thursday - an impressive start to Tim Cone's time as permanent Gilas coach.
Gilas will resume its Asia Cup qualifiers in the November window, but before that will also see action in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia this July.
Gilas went off late in the first quarter where it scored 10 straight points to open a 26-13 lead. Another 16-0 blast with Sotto scoring a three-point play allowed the Philippines to grab a 42-18 lead in the second quarter.
Brownlee and Sotto later connected in the third quarter when a Sotto pass led to a Brownlee dunk. Japeth Aguilar also had dunks of his own to the delight of the Gilas fans inside the Pasig venue.
Gilas finished with 30 assists and forced 16 turnovers with its stifling defense.
Calvin Oftana added 13 points, while Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo had 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Gilas. Scottie Thompson dished out nine assists.
The scores:
Philippines 106 – Brownlee 26, Sotto 18, Oftana 13, Ramos 12, Tamayo 11, Quiambao 10, Aguilar 8, Perez 4, Newsome 2, Thompson 2.
Chinese Taipei 53 – Liu 13, Lin 8, Wang 6, Z.R. Hseih 6, Chang 4, Lin C.C. 3, Lin C. 2, Gao 2, Chen 2, Yu 2.
Quarters: 26-13; 52-27; 82-41; 106-53.
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