Joy and pride as Philippines win basketball gold again at last at the Asian Games

Philippines' players hold their country's national flag as they celebrate their win against Jordan at the men's gold medal basketball game between Jordan and Philippines during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on October 6, 2023. - AFP

MANILA (AFP) : Filipinos roared in joy and relief as their men's basketball team ended decades of heartbreak in winning their first Asian Games gold medal in 61 years.

Many in the basketball-crazy nation of 110 million people were glued to television and mobile phone screens as the "Gilas", Tagalog for panache, eked out a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final in Hangzhou, China.