By MARK REY MONTEJO

BOCAUE, Bulacan – AJ Edu was just too glad to provide the body to stop the bulldozing Karl-Anthony Towns in Gilas Pilipinas' loss to the Dominican Republic in the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday, Aug. 25.

The Filipinos may have succumbed to the Dominicans, 87-81, but it was the stage that Edu needed to shine against the world's best, including Towns who was pushed to shoulder the offense for the visitors in a game that was only decided in the endgame.

“It’s a surreal feeling, you know, playing against someone you watch a lot on TV, seeing at All-Star games, seeing you know be the No. 1 pick. But, you know those are the sort of challenges that I love,” Edu said.

Towns still did his damage even with the variety of defensive schemes put up by Gilas and finished with 26 points.

The record-breaking 38,115 fans in attendance also showed appreciation to Edu's brave stand and cheered him on every time he completed a stop against Towns.

“That’s why I played the game of basketball to play in front of a crowd like that with a challenge like that, I just really love the opportunity, I loved every minute playing against him and ultimately that’s the level I wanna be for one day,” he added.

The 23-year-old cager, who battled back through two ACL injuries early in his career, even earned the respect of Towns — something that obviously left Edu in amusement.

“That’s just amazing right there, that’s awesome and I mean that’s the whole point of competing with this guys, especially if that’s the level I aspiring to [be] someday.”

Edu registered seven points and five rebounds and joined hands with June Mar Fajardo in manning the paint against the Dominicans.

Edu will once again be tested when he faces up against wide-bodied NBA big man Bruno Fernando when Gilas takes on Angola on Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.