BOCAUE – AJ Edu, the young big man of Gilas Pilipinas, has garnered the attention of Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns commended Edu for his outstanding defense against him during the Dominican Republic’s narrow 87-81 victory over Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Friday night at the Philippine Arena.
“I believe he’s an exceptional player. He’s an ultimate competitor.
“I appreciate the competition he brought tonight; it elevates my performance. Filipinos, you know, have a culture of resilience. They played with the anticipated intensity; their culture embodies hard work,” Towns shared with the press after the hard-fought triumph.
With the 23-year-old Edu as his primary defender, the former NBA first overall pick managed a 5-of-16 shooting performance from the field.
Nonetheless, Towns achieved a team-high of 26 points and 10 rebounds, aiding the Los Quisqueyanos in repelling a spirited effort from the Gilas squad that briefly held a 72-69 lead early in the fourth quarter before being hampered by the absence of Jordan Clarkson and ultimately succumbing.
The showdown between the Dominican Republic and Gilas Pilipinas proved historic, drawing a record attendance of 38,115 spectators at the Philippine Arena – the highest in FIBA World Cup history.
The former NBA Rookie of the Year, along with his teammates, faced constant boos from fans but expressed delight in playing in front of the fervent Filipino crowd.
“It’s incredible. I’ve never been here before. I told everyone that I was eager to come out here. I’m extremely thrilled to be here. As I mentioned, the fans have been nothing short of amazing to us. The people are amazing,” Towns remarked.
“During my upbringing, one of my closest friends was deeply immersed in Filipino culture. He was born here in General Santos City, so I’m incredibly proud to be Dominican and to be here with a victory. I’m equally proud to meet all the wonderful fans here in the Philippines and to be able to express my gratitude, mabuhay!”
