By REYNALD MAGALLON
The social media space erupted in frenzy and almost simultaneously when Gilas Pilipinas completed a momentous 77-76 victory over host China to advance to the gold medal round of the 19th Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in China on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
‘Gilas Pilipinas’, ‘Cone’ and of course, the hero for the Nationals, ‘Brownlee’, immediately trended on X with none other than former national team mentor Chot Reyes leading the congratulatory messages online.
“YES, YES, YES!!! GILAS wins 🇵🇭!!! Congrats Coach Tim and the guys. Grabe ka, @magic_brown32! On to the Finals!!!,” wrote Reyes on his Instagram post.
Much of the posts in social media were about Brownlee who added another epic chapter to his legend in Philippine basketball. As if a well-written tale, the Gilas naturalized player dropped 33 points in the victory that ended a 33-year absence of the Philippines in the Asian Games final.
Gilas, which shot 0-of-7 from deep in the first half, caught fire with eight in the last two quarters, seven coming from Brownlee – none bigger than the last two that proved to be the strong finishing kick Gilas needed.
Reposting a video of Brownlee’s highlight triples – the first, a tough step-back trey and the second a booming off the dribble trey over the outstretched arms of two Chinese defenders, Gilas guard Chris Ross only has one word to describe Brownlee’s dagger hits.
“Filthy,” posted Ross on X along with his facial reaction from after the big win.
Avid Gilas fans also joined the party online, singing praises for Brownlee among of which are Ginebra fans, who, more than anyone, knew well how the six-time PBA champion loves to embrace the spotlight
“Never say die basketball, Justin Brownlee is now a national hero!,” one X user posted.
“You know that Brownlee has a record of ending title droughts in the month of October. It was also in Oct 2016 when he made that shot to help Ginebra win a title after 8 long yrs. And now poised to help Gilas win a gold this month. Book it!,” another posted.
“Where do I sign to get a Justin Brownlee statue up in Manila?,” sportscaster Jutt Sulit posted.
Of course, praises poured for Cone and even the SMC group, led by Sports Director and current Gilas team manager Al Francis Chua, after taking over the Gilas program for the Asian Games.
“Great adjustments of players by @manilacone to make that comeback. Crucial magic bunot yung Kevin Alas don and syempre the GOAT Justin Brownlee,” a fan posted on X.
“I think we should stop calling them Gilas, this is an SMC led team, Pilipinas San Miguel team, SMC loves winning, and that winning culture is there, SMB and Ginebra players and coaching staff are the core of this team,” one X user commented on one of Manila Bulletin’s stories about the win.
“AL FRANCIS CHUA THE TRUE MVP,” one posted.
The campaign is not over yet for Gilas as the win only assured them a silver medal – effectively ending a 25-year medal drought for the Philippines in the sport.
The task right now is to end another 61-year wait for the country to bag the gold medal in the centerpiece event in the quadrennial meet.
Brownlee, though, will be facing up against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the final, an opportunity to settle the score against the NBA veteran who handed him his first loss in the PBA finals last year.
