MANILA, Philippines – As GILAS Pilipinas began its campaign in the 2nd Doha Invitational Cup on a thrilling note at the Qatar University early on Saturday morning, the team went on a big run in the fourth quarter to defeat Qatar by a score of 74-71.

After being largely silent for the first three quarters, Justine Brownlee put on an incredible show in the last quarter to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a valiant comeback triumph. Together with teammates Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu, Brownlee led a spectacular comeback that overcame an 11-point lead and gave the national team a vital victory.

The turning point was when Brownlee, after receiving a pass from Edu, made a strong one-handed dunk to put Gilas up 70-69, a lead they would not give up. Brownlee had been a poor offensive team up until the fourth quarter, scoring just one point in the first three quarters. He did, however, step up when it counted most, hitting nine vital points in the last quarter to turn the tide in Gilas’ favor.

The whole team was energized by Brownlee’s comeback, and Ramos and Edu both made important contributions on both ends of the court. Their combined efforts were crucial in closing the gap and winning the game. The victory highlighted the national team’s tenacity and resolve, showcasing its capacity to come together under duress and perform in crucial situations.

In addition to demonstrating his leadership and skill, Brownlee’s outstanding fourth-quarter performance solidified his place as a vital member of Gilas Pilipinas. In an extremely difficult match, his timely heroics and his teammates’ unrelenting support made sure that the national team won.

Gilas Pilipinas keeps gaining ground with this performance, enhancing their standing as a powerful force on the global scene. Their tenacity, camaraderie, and capacity to step up when the stakes are high are all demonstrated by their exciting return.

Ramos finished with a team-high 15 points, and he was the one who carried the majority of the burden for the team early on in the game. June Mar Fajardo added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Brownlee and Scottie Thompson each finished with 10 points. However, the two free throws that Scottie Thompson made in the final 16 seconds of the game proved to be the game-winning baskets for the away team.

Due to the fact that Mike Lewis II’s effort from beyond the three-point arc failed to hit the target at the buzzer, the Qataris were left with one more play to send the game into overtime.

The big giants Kevin Quiambao and Edu excelled for Gilas as well, scoring seven and six points, respectively, in their respective games.

Edu got a team-high eleven rebounds and supplied the highlight reel moment of the game when he scored on a two-handed slam to conclude seven consecutive unanswered points by the Filipinos, who eventually put themselves in a position to threaten at 66-65.

The Gilas team will return to the court late on Saturday night to face Lebanon, and they will be looking to make it two wins in a row in a span of less than twenty-four hours.

As a result of playing without mainstays Wael Arakji and naturalized player Omari Spellman, the Cedars were defeated by Egypt earlier in the game by a score of 82-70.

In the meantime, the Pharaohs will compete against Qatar, who defeated Gilas in a heartbreaking matchup, despite receiving 17 points from Tyler Harris and 15 points from Lewis.

Scores at the end of the match

Philippines with 74 points for the win

Individual scores: Ramos 15, Fajardo 12, Brownlee 10, Thompson 10, Quiambao 7, Edu 6, Perez 6, Oftana 3, Tamayo 3, Newsome 2

Qatar with 71 points

Individual scores: Harris 17, Lewis 15, Ndao 9, Fouda 9, Seydou 9, Abbsher 7, Saad 3, Magassa 2, Dieng 0, Grantham 0, Avdic 0.

Scores per quarter

18-20, 38-40, 51-50, 74-71.