LIVE UPDATES: Hangzhou Asian Games October 7
ASIAN GAMES: TEAM PHILIPPINES OCTOBER 7 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Gilas Pilipinas members celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Jordan in their men’s basketball gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A little over a month removed from a lackluster World Cup campaign and some 1,700 kilometers away from home, Gilas Pilipinas finally found a reason to celebrate.
The Nationals, hastily assembled and sent to a long and arduous route in the 19th Asian Games (Asiad), saved their best for last on Friday night and thumped Jordan, 70-60, to capture the country’s first basketball gold in over six decades.
“Our guys were just really disciplined tonight,” national coach Tim Cone told reporters before hurrying towards the team dugout at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China to join in the revelry after a campaign that will be talked about for ages.
Gilas Pilipinas players carry their head coach Tim Cone following their win over Jordan in the men’s basketball gold medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
MANILA, Philippines–A tweak on Gilas Pilipinas’ defense, according to its indefatigable star, proved to be the key in the Philippines’ 70-60 triumph over Jordan that delivered an Asian Games gold medal on Friday night.
“It was our defensive adjustments,” Justin Brownlee told reporters on the heels of his 20-point, 10-rebound outing in the men’s basketball final at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China.
“We defended them way better, and we defended them differently as well. Coach Tim (Cone) did a great job adjusting our defense and the way we wanted to guard them.”
Chris Newsome holds up his gold medal after Gilas Pilipinas won the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. –JUNE NAVARRO/INQUIRER
One of the final cuts from the Fiba World Cup roster, Chris Newsome turned in a performance to remember on Friday night as Gilas Pilipinas clinched its first Asian Games basketball gold in a long while.
Newsome finished with 13 points while keeping Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to just 24 points on 8-for-29 shooting in the Philippines’ 70-60 triumph over Jordan at Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium in China.
The Meralco Bolts star said his performance eased the pain of not making the squad that played in the global showcase hosted by the Philippines last month.
Annie Ramirez reacts after winning the gold in women’s jiu-jitsu in the Asian Games. –POC POOL
Annie Ramirez can’t wait to frame her Asian Games jiu jitsu gold on an exclusive wall inside her room already stuffed with medals and trophies.
Although Ramirez had won in almost every major tournament she’d been to, retirement hasn’t crossed her mind yet.
“I haven’t thought about it yet, especially not now after winning the Asian Games,’’ said the 32-year-old Ramirez with her Asiad diadem, no doubt the most precious from among her collection.
FILE–Ariana Evangelista–PHILCYCLING PHOTO
Ariana Evangelista on Friday strongly denied any wrongdoing after the Philippines’ female mountain bike entry tested positive for a banned substance during her recent campaign in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Breaking her silence since being named as one of three athletes that failed a doping test administered by the International Testing Agency (ITA), Evangelista apologized for the issue while waiting for the results of her B-sample following an appeal to clear her name.
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