By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team wrapped up their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Window 2 with a convincing sweep following a demolition exhibition on Hong Kong, 93-54, on November 24, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After a historic and momentum-boosting victory over New Zealand several days ago, the brave Filipino hoopers picked up where they left off and dominated Hong Kong on both ends of the floor en route to a flawless win.
Despite a slow start hounded by several defensive miscues in the perimeter, Gilas Pilipinas finally pulled away midway through the second quarter and ballooned their lead to double digits heading to the second half.
Gilas topped off their second-quarter performance in the third when they crushed Hong Kong with their perfect offensive execution kicked off by a 16-2 scoring run to end the frame with a 27-point lead, 67-40.
With the way that Gilas played on both ends of the floor, Hong Kong just didn’t have enough firepower to deal with the deep rotation of head coach Tim Cone who received multiple valuable contributions from his trusted wards.
Carl Tamayo, who only scored a deuce against New Zealand, erupted against Hong Kong and spearheaded their rally in the second and third quarters.
The reliable veteran trio of Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, and Kai Sotto then delivered the goods to protect Gilas’ massive cushion in the fourth.
Also seeing action for the first time in the second window were Kevin Quiambao and Mason Amos. The teammates at the DLSU Green Archers hoops program paid off the trust of the Gilas coaching staff and also stepped up in the bright lights in front of the thousands of Filipino supporters who flocked and cheered for them.
Tamayo became Gilas’ money man against Hong Kong and led all scorers in the game with 16 points built from an efficient 7/14 shooting from the field.
Sotto wasn’t done flaunting his all-around arsenal on the FIBA stage and tallied a dominant double-double stat-line of 12 markers, 15 rebounds, and two assists. Fajardo chipped in 14, Brownlee with 13, while the duo of Quiambao and Amos combined for 11 markers.
