Japan vs Czech Republic in FIBA OQT Belgrade. Photo from Fiba.com
It wasn’t just the Filipinos who experienced utter heartbreak in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Gilas’ Asian compatriots Japan and Iran also bowed out of their FIBA OQT bids.
An ocean away from Manila to Turin, the Iranians suffered the same fate as Gilas as they absorbed a 0-2 record in their group in the Italy tournament.
First it was Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greeks who gave the the Iranians a 78-53 shellacking.
Then it was Mexico who sealed Iran’s exit from the tournament with a 75-70 win.
The Japanese, too, didn’t fare any better after they lost their two games by an average of 28 points in Belgrade, Serbia.
Latvia was the first to rip Japan apart, 88-48, then it was Czechoslovakia who sent the Japanese packing with an 87-71 rout.
In terms of margins, the Filipinos had the most decent clips losing by an average of nine points.