Gilas rallies past Macau, 103-98, in send-off game

Gilas Pilipinas staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Macau Black Bears, 103-98, in a send-off tune-up game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Monday.

Despite trailing by as much as 21 points late in the second half, Gilas relied on CJ Perez, Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, and AJ Edu to mount their comeback, with Brownlee scoring 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter.

Brownlee led all scorers with a game-high 32 points, including a crucial performance in the final period, along with 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block.

Dwight Ramos contributed 19 points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block while AJ Edu added 15 markers and three boards to help Gilas overcome their deficit.

AJ Edu acknowledged the significant void left by Kai Sotto's absence due to an ACL injury but emphasized that the team is ready for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition match served as a crucial part of Gilas Pilipinas' preparation for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup scheduled to start on August 5, with the team set to fly to Jeddah later this week.