GILAS Pilipinas cruised to an 89-61 victory over Bahrain in their opening game at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Tuesday.
Gilas, which only had a few weeks to prepare for the men’s basketball tournament, enjoyed a 34-point lead at one point, making it difficult for the Middle Eastern squad to come back.
The Philippines’ two naturalized players led the way, with Justin Brownlee posting a spectacular 20-point, 10-rebound performance. Angelo Kouame, a former Ateneo standout, contributed 15 points and 7 rebounds.
CJ Perez, a holdover from the Gilas team that competed in the FIBA World Cup, scored 15 points, while Calvin Oftana logged 10 points.
Perez, Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Alas, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter were late additions to the team after some players were deemed ineligible.
Fortunately, the five locals were able to get a green light from the organizers just in time for the match against Bahrain.
After Bahrain, the Philippines will face Thailand on Thursday and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordan on Saturday.
Tuesday’s game showed Gilas can perform despite the limitations. Fans are optimistic that the national team will do well as the tournament progresses.
