Gilas puts on show in Doha

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas simply wouldn’t let Filipino supporters who made this feel more like a home game against home team Qatar down.

With a big roaring group of Pinoy OFWs cheering them on, the Nationals willed themselves back from an 11-point deficit to steal a pulsating 74-71 win over the host Qataris in the Doha International Cup early yesterday (Manila time).

Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos and Aj Edu ignited a searing 23-11 closing barrage that flipped the script in the opening match the Qataris, who were led by naturalized players Mike Lewis II and Tyler Harris, were initially in control of.

Held to a single point in the first three quarters, Brownlee came to life and dumped nine in the payoff period highlighted by a thunderous slam that put the visitors ahead, 70-69, after trailing, 49-60, at one point.

Ramos hit two clutch baskets and a nice assist pass to Edu during this game-changing run en route to a team-high 15. Edu made a pivotal dunk and a nice feed to Brownlee as he finished with six markers and grabbed 10 rebounds in his first appearance for the Tim Cone-coached Philippines.

June Mar Fajardo, with 12, and Scottie Thompson, matching Brownlee’s 10, helped out offensively, as Gilas secured the W in the four-team tournament that kicked off their 2025 campaign.

The Nationals were to return to the Qatar University Arena late last night to take on old rivals Lebanon, which dropped a 70-82 loss to Egypt in the other Day 1 match. After the Cedars, the Filipinos will duel with the Egyptians early Monday to wrap up this trip.

“This Doha tournament is a preparation for the FIBA Asia in August (in Saudi Arabia),” coach Tim Cone said on One Sports.

“It’s a tough, tough tournament, playing Qatar at home, playing one of our nemesis in Lebanon and playing an African team like Egypt with experience in the World Cup. But we wanted it tough. And it’s tougher because we don’t have Kai (Sotto).”

The Qatar meet will also give Gilas extra workout before concluding its slate in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a pair of away assignments against Chinese Taipei (Feb. 20) and New Zealand (Feb. 23).