Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee against Saudi Arabia in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo from FIBA Basketball.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754989839008IMG_8004.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee against Saudi Arabia in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo from FIBA Basketball."/>Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee against Saudi Arabia in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo from FIBA Basketball.MANILA — As he has done time and again, Justin Brownlee rose to the occasion and lifted Gilas Pilipinas to a crucial victory in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup early Tuesday.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/8/11/fiba-brownlee-the-hero-anew-as-gilas-survives-saudi-arabia-for-q-finals-berth-0204">GAME RECAP: Brownlee the hero anew as Gilas survives Saudi Arabia, sets up q’finals clash vs. Australia</a></div>The naturalized Filipino kept the Nationals in contention in the continental meet, draining a contested three-pointer against Saudi Arabia to force overtime and eventually book their spot in the quarterfinals.“By all rights, [KSA] had the game won, except for the guy sitting to my right hitting the big shot,” said Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone, referring to his long-time Barangay Ginebra import who had 29 points, five assists, four rebounds, and a block in their 95-88 win.“If you know his history, that&#x27;s not unusual. He&#x27;s been hitting big shots,” added Cone.<div>Brownlee, who has won championships both with Gilas and Ginebra, went superhero mode to the delight of the Filipino crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City as he led Gilas’ comeback from a 77-71 deficit before sealing the win in OT. <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754990011911IMG_8007.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino fans supporting Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo from FIBA Basketball."/>Filipino fans supporting Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. Photo from FIBA Basketball.“I&#x27;m his coach in his club team, and when we played in the Asian Games, he was hitting big shots all the time,” hailed Cone, before detailing the sequence that they executed.</div>“This is nothing foreign to Justin,” he said. “We were fortunate that we were able to get the ball back. We just ran an old play for Justin that he&#x27;s familiar with.”“We got the switch that we wanted, got a little smaller guy on him, and he was able to get a shot up over the top. It&#x27;s exactly the same play we ran a few years ago to win a championship at the club level,” continued Cone, citing Ginebra’s PBA Governors’ Cup championship in 2016.However, the ever-down-to-earth Brownlee downplayed the praises of his coach.“You should be asking me, because he will never say anything,” Cone quipped to a reporter who asked Brownlee about his “clutch gene.”“I think these are the moments that players dream of,” JB then answered. “When the game is tight, coming down the wire, and the atmosphere like Saudi had today, I can&#x27;t really say it&#x27;s clutch genes or something that I developed.”“When you see the opportunity, you just have to go after it. It doesn&#x27;t always work in your favor. Obviously, you can&#x27;t make every shot or make the best out of every moment, but you just gotta have courage and take those opportunities.”“I&#x27;m just very blessed to have the opportunity to be able to hit those shots, but I&#x27;ve got to thank my teammates. They have a lot of confidence in me. They inspired me to go do those and make those shots,” he added.

"I can't really say it's clutch genes or something that I developed. When you see the opportunity, you just have to go after it."

"I can't really say it's clutch genes or something that I developed. When you see the opportunity, you just have to go after it."

FIBA: Ever-humble Justin Brownlee downplays latest heroics for Gilas Pilipinas

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FIBA: Ever-humble Justin Brownlee downplays latest heroics for Gilas Pilipinas

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2025 05:28 PM PHT

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2025 FIBA Asia Cup

Tim Cone

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