Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday filed a resolution urging the Senate to commend the Philippine men's national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas for winning the gold medal in the recently concluded 19th Asian Games.

In filing Proposed Resolution No. 822, Villanueva congratulated Gilas Pilipinas for their victory in the 5×5 basketball event of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China from 25 September to 6 October 2023.

"[T]his is the country's fifth gold medal in the basketball tournament of the quadrennial regional games and the first since the 1962 Asian Games, ending the country's 61-year title drought," he said.

"Gilas Pilipinas brought great pride and honor to the country, delighting millions of Filipino basketball followers around the world as they once again ruled Asian basketball after more than six decades," he added.

He continued: "Gilas Pilipinas displayed determination, discipline, resilience, and perseverance and their outstanding performance deserves the highest praise, recognition, and commendation as they showed the world the indefatigable spirit of Filipino basketball excellence."

The 12-man Gilas Pilipinas won the 19th Asian Games basketball championship, bringing the title back to the Philippines after more than 60 years since its last victory in 1962.

The basketball team is composed of Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Louie Alas, Justin Brownlee, Junemar Fajardo, Angelo Kouame, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Christian Jaymar "CJ" Perez, Christopher Ross, Earl Scottie Thompson, and Arvin Tolentino.

Gilas Pilipinas was led by head coach Earl Timothy Cone and assistant coaches Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, Josh Reyes, and LA Tenorio.