(UPDATED) Gilas Pilipinas outlasted Jordan to squeeze out a 70-60 victory and capture the gold medal in the 19th Asian Games men's basketball finals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center on Friday night.

Justin Brownlee topscored for the Philippines with 20 points, but it was Ange Kouame who brought them to the promised land by constantly attacking the basket and scoring crucial free throws that thwarted the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-powered Jordan side.

"It feels great, man," said Ivory Coast-born Kouame, who finished with 14 points.

"We knew the team needed that win and to get the job done. Everyone came together and that was a great team effort. It means a lot after all these years, and that's bigger than all of us."

Chris Newsome added 13 markers as Gilas exacted revenge against Jordan.

• Gilas needs 'something special' to beat Jordan, says Cone

"It means a lot for not just me but everybody in that locker room," said Newsome, who did the daunting task of guarding Hollis-Jefferson. "There was a lot of people who didn't think we could do it, and we proved them wrong."

Hollis-Jefferson had 24 markers, but could have scored more if not for Newsome's defense.

"He's a hell of a competitor so I went out there to try to give my best and to try to stop him," he said.

Gilas went on an aggressive start against Jordan to post quick 11-5 lead in the first period. The Filipinos enjoyed a 28-15 upper hand until Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sparked a searing 14-1 rally to tie count, 29-all.

• Asian Games: Hollis-Jefferson, Jordan deny Gilas outright q'final berth

Gilas then picked up the pace in the third quarter as Scottie Thompson and Calvin Oftana drilled successive treys for a 43-39 lead.

Free throws by Ahmad Al Dwairi brought Jordan closer, 41-45, but the Filipinos again surged ahead following buckets by Newsome, Kevin Alas and Japeth Aguilar to claim a 51-41 upperhand going to the fourth.

Freddy Ibrahim opened the payoff period with a triple, followed by John Bohannon's basket that cut Jordan's deficit to 53-46. Then Hollis-Jefferson and Bohannon tried to work around Gilas' defense in an effort to further narrow the gap midway through the quarter.

A couple of freebies by Hollis-Jefferson and one by Ahmad Al Dwairi brought Jordan closer, 60-56. But Kouame managed to sink a couple of free throws himself and a crucial jumper in the final 1:45 minutes to keep Gilas afloat 64-55.

Hollis-Jefferson threatened with big shots down the stretch, but Kouame's free throws in the last 14 seconds hammered the final nail on Jordan's coffin.

All in all, Gilas enjoyed 33 percent field goal shooting against Jordan's
26 percent. The Filipinos were also more efficient from beyond the arc, scoring 28 percent compared to Jordan's 22.

Gilas also more balanced in scoring with 21 points coming from the bench, while Jordan relied much on Hollis-Jefferson to settle for eight bench points.

• Asian Games: Brownlee, Newsome glad to finally suit up for Gilas Pilipinas

Jordan foiled the Philippines in their first meeting in the preliminaries, 87-62, sending Gilas to a tougher path against Iran in the quarterfinals and China in the semis.

But Gilas overcame China via an emotional 77-76 victory and set a title joust against Jordan.

It was a sweet victory for coach Tim Cone who had to scramble to assemble a team for the Asian Games. He fulfilled a longtime dream of winning a gold after his Centennial squad settled for a bronze in the 1998 edition of the Asiad.

The golden finish also redeemed the Philippines from its disastrous 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign where it lost four games before closing the stint with a win over China. - With a report from Agence France-Presse

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