PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The men's basketball gold medal — the most important hardware for the Filipinos — is back where it belongs.

Stacked against all kind of odds from a Cambodian team spiked with naturalized players to extreme heat, cramped dugout and slippery floor, Gilas Pilipinas still emerged victorious as it pulled off a convincing 80-69 victory to clinch the gold medal of the men's basketball competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

Naturalized player Justin Brownlee saved the best for last while the rest of the squad sizzled early to gain the momentum and set the stage for a strong finishing kick in front of a massive crowd at the Elephant Hall 2 of the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Tuesday.

The victory gave the Filipinos their 19th gold medal in men's basketball event and 55th overall for Team Philippines in the biennial meet that formally reached its final stretch.

But more than that, it sent a strong message of redemption, proving that Gilas have what it takes to bounce back and rise from a devastating loss to the Cambodians in the preliminaries that sparked a lot of doubts, including from their biggest benefactor in Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan.

"I know a lot of people doubted this time the first time we lost, what I didn't tell you was that after the loss, I told them that 'this is the loss that we could afford.' We needed that lost, actually," Gilas head coach Reyes said.

'We all know that in the Cambodia game, that was not the real Justin Brownlee.'