HANGZHOU, China – “Just-in” time.

That was how one self-styled expert described Justine Brownlee’s sudden explosion in the final half that helped power Gilas Pilipinas to spell-binding 77-76 win over China in their titanic semis duel in the 19th Asian Games that left home fans in funeral silence on Wednesday, Oct. 4, here. 

And that was because of Brownlee’s heroics.

Brownlee’s  stats sheet said it all: 33 points, five rebounds and four assists that more than made up for his four turnovers in almost 40 minutes of action.

Gilas coach Tim Cone almost lost of words in describing how they managed to slay a giant like China, saying his team played one fabulous game.

It was a total team effort, saying everybody gave their fair share for the win.

“I am proud of my players, I am proud of what they did, they did not give up,” said Cone during the press conference.

Cone, however, reserved his biggest compliment to a player he considers very special.

“It was quite a miraculous win by us, it was just all about Justine making those shots down the stretch,” said Cone. “If you don’t know him, He’s a clutch player and he normally does it in the PBA,” added Cone.

And he’s been doing that to crowd-favorite Ginebra in the PBA the past seven years.

Almost a goner after being down for most of the way, falling to a 20-point hole (46-26) at one point, Gilas rallied furiously behind the torrid sniping of Brownlee – none bigger than two missiles he dropped during a blazing finish that also saw Kevin Alas making a triple of his own plus a gallant driving lay-up.

The most lethal was the one that gave a 77-76 lead with 23 ticks before the Nationals banked off a Big D to prevail and delighted very few Filipinos who managed to enter the gym.

Even the smile of NBA Hall of Famer and Chinese basketball executive Yao Ming, who was flashed on a giant screen late in the first half, turned sour at the end of the game.