No Brownlee, no problem! Kevin Quiambao shows he can be a closer for Gilas

KEVIN Quiambao showed that Gilas Pilipinas does not have to rely solely on Justin Brownlee for the kind of clutch shots that can swing a game.

With Brownlee unavailable for the Philippines’ 82-81 overtime escape against Jordan, Quiambao stepped up when an opportunity presented itself, drilling the go-ahead three-pointer that gave Gilas an 82-79 lead with 11.7 seconds left in overtime.

“JB is JB. Wino-work out ko lang ’yung mga gano’n para kapag kailangan ng team, puwede ko siyang gawin,” Quiambao said.

“Nagkaroon ng opening opportunity, so sinubukan ko lang. Sakto, pina-practice ko iyung shot na iyun, so luckily it went in.”

The shot became one of the defining moments of a dramatic night for the Philippines, which erased an early 18-point deficit and eventually completed the comeback in front of a packed Mall of Asia Arena.

But Quiambao said the victory was ultimately a product of Gilas’ resilience rather than one individual play.

“Ayun nga, ’yung resiliency ng team,” he said. “Ipinakita namin na kaya naming makipag-compete for 40 minutes,” he said.

Gilas trailed Jordan, 28-14, after the opening quarter and remained behind at halftime before gradually clawing its way back into the contest.

Quiambao said the team simply needed to wait for its opportunity to seize momentum.

“Basketball is a game of runs. So you just need to find that momentum, at ayun nga, dumating,” Quiambao continued.

The La Salle standout finished with 14 points with two three-pointers, while Kai Sotto led Gilas with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

After Quiambao’s crucial triple, Jordan cut the lead to one following a five-second inbound violation, setting up a frantic final possession.

That was when Sotto delivered the final defensive blow, blocking Abdullah Olajuwon’s potential game-winning attempt to preserve the victory.

The comeback snapped Gilas’ four-game losing streak and gave the Philippines a much-needed win to open the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

With another crucial game against Iran coming Sunday, Quiambao’s performance also offered Gilas another encouraging sign: the Philippines may have found another player willing to take the biggest shot when the moment arrives. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)

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Kai Sotto’s last second block propels Gilas to 82-81 OT win versus Jordan

MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas found a way to survive a tense overtime battle against Jordan, securing an 82-81 victory Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to open its second-round campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

With Justin Brownlee sidelined, the Philippines leaned on several players to produce at the right time, none bigger than Kevin Quiambao, Kai Sotto and CJ Perez in the extra period.

The hard-earned win ended Gilas Pilipinas’ four-game slide and improved its record to 3-4 in Pool E, keeping the Philippines within striking distance in the race for a World Cup berth.

Jordan, meanwhile, fell to 5-2.

The visitors seemed poised to steal the game after Jalen Harris gave Jordan a 78-74 cushion with a jumper with 1:53 left in overtime.

Gilas responded with a 5-0 surge.

AJ Edu first split his free throws before Perez drove aggressively to the basket for two points. Sotto then cleaned up a missed Quiambao triple, giving the Philippines its first lead of the extra period at 79-78 with 41.5 seconds remaining.

Jordan quickly drew level after Harris was fouled while attacking the basket. With Harris unable to take the resulting free throws, Omar Salman stepped in but could only make one, tying the score at 79 with 30.6 seconds on the clock.

That set the stage for Quiambao.

The forward made up for an earlier miss from the same area by drilling a three-pointer with just 11.7 seconds left, putting Gilas ahead 82-79.

Jordan had one last chance to steal the game but Sotto’s presence inside proved decisive. The 7-foot-3 center challenged Olajuwon’s final attempt and helped preserve the Philippine lead as the clock ran out.

The result gave Gilas a much-needed boost following four consecutive defeats to Australia and New Zealand during the first round.

Sotto also made a significant impact in his return to the national team, supplying size, rebounding and interior defense as Gilas competed without Brownlee.

Carl Tamayo was forced out of the game in the third quarter after suffering a left-leg injury in a collision. He had scored eight points before leaving.

Gilas will have little time to celebrate, with Iran next on the schedule at 8pm Sunday at the same venue.

Iran also owns a 5-2 record, making the matchup another critical test for the Philippines in its bid to reach the 2027 FIBA World Cup. (Adrian Co)

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NBA legend Tony Parker welcomes Victor Wembanyama as France’s new team captain

FORMER San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker has thrown his support behind Victor Wembanyama’s appointment as the new captain of the French national basketball team, calling it the right decision for the country’s program.

Parker, widely regarded as one of France’s greatest basketball players, believes the San Antonio Spurs big man is ready to take on the leadership role despite his young age.

“I think it’s a great decision. Great decision from the coach,” Parker said in an interview with Anton Roxas of Bilyonaryo News Channel’s The Scorecard.

The four-time NBA champion said there was little reason to delay Wembanyama’s elevation, pointing to the 22-year-old’s status as the centerpiece of France’s national team for years to come.

“Why wait? He’s our franchise and he’s going to be the cornerstone for the next 10, 15 years with the national team. So I’m super happy,” Parker said.

Wembanyama has already established himself as one of the NBA’s biggest young stars, and Parker was particularly impressed by what he accomplished with the Spurs.

“He had an unbelievable season with the Spurs, brought them all the way to the NBA Finals at 22 years old. That’s really, really hard to do,” Parker said.

Parker acknowledged that Wembanyama will now face increased expectations with France, but believes the young superstar is capable of handling the responsibility.

“With the national team, obviously a lot of expectation. And so I thought it was a great decision,” he said.

Wembanyama’s appointment signals a new era for French basketball, with the towering Spurs star expected to become the central figure of the national program following Parker’s generation. (Adrian Co)

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COLUMN: Arana out of Gilas Final 12 for crucial FIBA window

CHICAGO — In barely 24 hours, a qualifying window will open for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

But for two Gilas Pilipinas players, a door will also close.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is set to officially announce the Final 12 roster today, ahead of tomorrow’s game against Jordan.

According to an informant, Justin Arana is one of the two players who did not make the cut.

“Dumating si Kai (Sotto),” a person with knowledge of the situation said.

It’s easy to understand why Arana was reportedly bumped.

While both centers weigh around 232 pounds, Sotto is a towering 7-foot-3 compared to the 6-foot-7 Arana.

Sotto, 24, is also vastly more experienced in international play than the 27-year-old Converge pivot.

While Arana may have missed out on the FIBA qualifiers, he could still get another chance to represent the flag and is reportedly a shoo-in for the Asian Games squad.

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Alex Eala mural unveiled at iconic Taguig Tenement Court

A new mural honoring Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala has been unveiled at the iconic Fort Bonifacio Tenement in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City.

The artwork, painted on the building’s well-known basketball court, pays tribute to Eala following her historic rise to No. 18 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings — the highest ranking ever achieved by a Filipino tennis player.

Eala’s latest milestone also made her the highest-ranked Southeast Asian player in WTA singles history.

The mural adds Eala to the growing list of athletes celebrated at the 63-year-old housing complex, whose basketball court has become a recognizable community landmark.

Photographer and artist Mike Swift has long been involved in projects at the Tenement aimed at bringing sports and art closer to its residents. In 2015, Swift and his friend Maya Carandang created a mural featuring NBA superstar LeBron James on the same basketball court.

Swift also played a role in bringing James to the Tenement, further strengthening the connection between the landmark court and international basketball.

The new Eala mural comes as the 21-year-old continues her breakthrough 2026 season, which has included her first WTA 500 singles title in Washington and a rise into the world’s top 20.

Eala is currently competing at the US Open, where she is making her return to the Grand Slam stage after establishing herself as one of the Philippines’ leading tennis players. (Adrian Co)

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Eala, Auger-Aliassime fall in US Open mixed doubles

ALEXANDRA Eala and Canadian partner Felix Auger-Aliassime faltered against the tandem of Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and France’s Gael Monfils, 4-1, 4-1, in the round of 16 of the US Open mixed doubles on Tuesday in New York.

Eala and Auger-Aliassime struggled to gain control of the match as Svitolina and Monfils dictated the exchanges and produced the more consistent performance.

The Filipina-Canadian pair managed three aces but converted none of their two break-point opportunities. They also committed two double faults and finished with eight winners and 23 total points won.

Svitolina and Monfils, meanwhile, registered two aces, seven winners and 34 total points, while winning all of their 22 receiving points recorded in the match statistics.

The defeat ends Eala’s mixed doubles run at the US Open after she was given a wildcard entry alongside Auger-Aliassime, the world No. 4 in men’s singles.

Eala now turns her full attention to the women’s singles competition, where she enters the tournament as one of the seeded players following her rise to a career-best No. 18 in the WTA rankings.

The 21-year-old Filipina is coming off a strong North American hard-court swing that included her maiden WTA 500 title in Washington, a Round of 16 finish in Toronto and a third-round appearance in Cincinnati. (Adrian Co)

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