Giant killer: Brownlee flirts with triple-double as Gilas Pilipinas shocks Latvia in FIBA OQT

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a massive upset to open the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament as it stunned world No. 6 Latvia in its own turf, hacking out an 89-80 win in Riga on Wednesday, July 3 (Thursday, July 4, Manila time).

Justin Brownlee delivered timely buckets down the stretch and finished with a near triple-double of 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists to propel the Philippines to a 1-0 record in Group A.

Kai Sotto chalked up 18 points and 8 rebounds in the nail-biting win, which saw the Filipinos build a lead as big as 26 points before they held off a gritty comeback from the Latvians.

Dwight Ramos chimed in 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, June Mar Fajardo added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Chris Newsome fired 10 points as the Nationals fueled hopes of advancing to the semifinals.

Rodions Kurucs tallied 18 points and 7 rebounds to pace Latvia, which dropped to 1-1.

📊 26 PTS I 9 REB I 9 AST

Justin Brownlee delivered an extraordinary near triple-double performance vs Latvia, earning TCL Player Of The Game honors!#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/JjGsQu1mNe
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2024

Is Justin Brownlee the MJ of the Philippines? 🐐🇵🇭 #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/l9QQjJgblV
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2024

🇵🇭 Gilas Pilipinas upset Latvia and claim their first win against European opposition in an official FIBA competition since 1960! #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/hwhSkvMTP1
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2024

Fourth quarter

FINAL: Gilas Pilipinas stuns Latvia and ekes out an 89-80 win
GILAS PILIPINAS 89-80: Davis Bertans for three with 38 seconds left to keep Latvia within striking distance
GILAS PILIPINAS 89-77: Dwight Ramos 2/2 at the line with under a minute left
GILAS PILIPINAS 87-77: Chris Newsome ices his free throws
GILAS PILIPINAS 85-77: Rihards Lomazs floats it in
GILAS PILIPINAS 85-75: Rolands Smits inside
GILAS PILIPINAS 85-73: Rodions Kurucs keeps Latvia afloat with a putback with 3:08 minutes left
GILAS PILIPINAS 85-71: Justin Brownlee completes the four-point play
GILAS PILIPINAS 84-71: Justin Brownlee for three plus the foul to silence the home crowd
GILAS PILIPINAS 81-71: Rolands Smits inside
GILAS PILIPINAS 81-69: Justin Brownlee makes the midrange jumper off a timeout
GILAS PILIPINAS 79-69: Janis Strelnieks jumper is good with 4:52 minutes remaining
GILAS PILIPINAS 79-67: Rodions Kurucs and-one with seven minutes left
GILAS PILIPINAS 79-64: Kristers Zoriks from deep
GILAS PILIPINAS 79-61: Kai Sotto 2/2 at the line
GILAS PILIPINAS 77-61: Rodions Kurucs completes the fast break
GILAS PILIPINAS 77-59: Janis Timma for three

Third quarter

END OF 3Q: Gilas Pilipinas up 77-56 with a quarter left to play
GILAS PILIPINAS 77-56: CJ Perez with another back-breaking three
GILAS PILIPINAS 74-56: Davis Bertans 2/2 with his free throws
GILAS PILIPINAS 74-54: Arturs Strautins split
GILAS PILIPINAS 74-53: Arturs Strautins 2/2 at the line
GILAS PILIPINAS 74-51: Janis Strelnieks and-one
GILAS PILIPINAS 74-48: Dwight Ramos knocks down the contested corner triple. Biggest lead for PH
GILAS 71-48: Justin Brownlee soars for the layup
GILAS PILIPINAS 69-48: June Mar Fajardo inside
GILAS PILIPINAS 67-48: Dwight Ramos with another bank shot
GILAS PILIPINAS 65-48: Rodions Kurucs bucket as Kai Sotto called for the goaltending
GILAS PILIPINAS 65-46: Chris Newsome makes both of his charity shots
GILAS PILIPINAS 63-46: Davis Bertans left open from deep
GILAS PILIPINAS 63-43: Kai Sotto again, this time with the short stab
GILAS PILIPINAS 61-43: Dwight Ramos kisses it off the glass
GILAS PILIPINAS 59-43: Rolands Smits answers with his own triple
GILAS PILIPINAS 59-40: Kai Sotto for three
GILAS PILIPINAS 56-40: Davis Bertans also 2/2 at the stripe
GILAS PILIPINAS 56-38: Justin Brownlee sinks his freebies

Second quarter

HALFTIME: Gilas Pilipinas brings a 54-38 lead into the break as Rihards Lomazs scores for Latvia
GILAS PILIPINAS 54-36: Justin Brownlee drains the technical free throw
GILAS PILIPINAS 53-36: Japeth Aguilar 2/2 at the line
GILAS PILIPINAS 51-36: Dwight Ramos for three after a kick out pass from Justin Brownlee
GILAS PILIPINAS 48-36: Justin Brownlee and-one
GILAS PILIPINAS 45-36: Klavs Cavars strong finish
GILAS PILIPINAS 45-34: Dairis Bertans long two
GILAS PILIPINAS 45-32: June Mar Fajardo works inside
GILAS PILIPINAS 43-32: Dairis Bertans trey
GILAS PILIPINAS 43-29: Kai Sotto cleans up his own miss
GILAS PILIPINAS 41-29: Dwight Ramos steal results in a Justin Brownlee two-handed jam
GILAS PILIPINAS 39-29: Mareks Mejeris makes the first free throw but misses the second one
GILAS PILIPINAS 39-28: Rodions Kurucs 2/2 at the stripe
GILAS PILIPINAS 39-26: Arturs Strautins for three
GILAS PILIPINAS 39-23: Rodions Kurucs scores
GILAS PILIPINAS 39-21: But Kevin Quiambao retaliates with his own long bomb
GILAS PILIPINAS 36-21: Kristers Zoriks for three
GILAS PILIPINAS 36-18: Kai Sotto with another one, this time off a Calvin Oftana assist
GILAS PILIPINAS 34-18: Kai Sotto flushes the alley-oop slam off a CJ Perez dime
GILAS PILIPINAS 32-18: Rodions Kurucs attacks and scores

First quarter

END OF 1Q: CJ Perez beats the buzzer with a long three-pointer to give Gilas Pilipinas a 32-16 lead
GILAS PILIPINAS 29-16: Justin Brownlee make both of his foul shots
GILAS PILIPINAS 27-16: Carl Tamayo splits his free throws
GILAS PILIPINAS 26-16: Chris Newsome converts on the fast break
GILAS PILIPINAS 24-16: Justin Brownlee answers with his own trey
GILAS PILIPINAS 21-16: Janis Strelnieks from long distance
GILAS PILIPINAS 21-13: Rihards Lomazs 2/2 at the stripe
GILAS PILIPINAS 21-11: Chris Newsome sinks the jump shot
GILAS PILIPINAS 19-11: Janis Strelnieks jumper is good
GILAS PILIPINAS 19-9: June Mar Fajardo makes the bonus shot
GILAS PILIPINAS 18-9: June Mar Fajardo again as the Philippines continues to punish Latvia inside
GILAS PILIPINAS 16-9: Justin Brownlee floats it in
GILAS PILIPINAS 14-9: Kristers Zoriks attacks off a screen
GILAS PILIPINAS 14-7: Chris Newsome strong drive
GILAS PILIPINAS 12-7: Kai Sotto lays it in
GILAS PILIPINAS 10-7: Rodions Kurucs from deep
GILAS PILIPINAS 10-4: June Mar Fajardo putback
GILAS PILIPINAS 8-4: Roland Smits layup is good
GILAS PILIPINAS 8-2: Kristers Zoriks 2/2 at the line
GILAS PILIPINAS 8-0: Justin Brownlee for three
GILAS PILIPINAS 5-0: Kai Sotto hits the bonus
GILAS PILIPINAS 4-0: Kai Sotto with the bang and the bucket
GILAS PILIPINAS 2-0: June Mar Fajardo inside

Starters

Philippines – Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Kai Sotto
Latvia – Rodions Kurucs, Dairis Bertans, Rolands Smits, Klavs Cavars, Kristers Zoriks

Preview

Whether Gilas Pilipinas can hold its own against a world-class team will be put to the test in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.

The Philippines will open its campaign against the world No. 6 hosts as it seeks to pull off a massive upset at the Arena Riga on Wednesday, July 3 (Thursday, July 4, Manila time).

Getting a win will be a tall order for the Filipinos, especially after the Latvians defended their turf against world No. 23 Georgia by way of an 83-55 romp to kick off hostilities in Group A.

Latvia shot the lights out against a Georgian side bannered by NBA players Sandro Mamukelashvili and Goga Bitadze as it went 30-of-61 from the field, including 12-of-29 from beyond the arc.

Spearheaded by Charlotte Hornets forward Davis Bertans, Latvia finished fifth in the previous FIBA World Cup, losing by just a single possession to eventual champion Germany in the quarterfinals.

But the Philippines banks on the belief that it can get the job done following close losses to world No. 15 Poland and No. 24 Turkey in a pair of friendly games.

Justin Brownlee is expected to lead the way for the Filipinos after averaging 25.5 points and 4 rebounds in those tuneup matches.

Game time is 12 am. – Rappler.com