Gilas ends Olympic bid, but not after showcasing elite program
Dwight Ramos (with ball) rues loss to Brazil, but lauds the national program’s progress. —FIBA.BASKETBALL
There will be chock-full of stories and thought pieces on Gilas Pilipinas’ run in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia.
The Filipinos ended their stint—and their bid to make it to the Paris Olympics—after a 71-60 loss on Saturday to Brazil in the capital city of Riga.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s funny we didn’t expect to be here but then when we got here we’d expect to win. So it’s painful that we didn’t especially having that halftime lead,” national coach Tim Cone said after the game. FULL STORY
Justin Brownlee can't be stopped: 12PTS in the first half vs Brazil! 😮💨#FIBAOQT
📺 https://t.co/ranzibgXcN
💻 https://t.co/7XnyzSmK1z pic.twitter.com/cOjeDtXDgx— FIBA (@FIBA) July 6, 2024
Tim Cone on Gilas’ Fiba OQT campaign: Now we know we can compete
Coach Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas ends its Fiba OQT campaign with their heads held high despite falling short of advancing to the final. –FIBA PHOTO
Still reeling from Gilas Pilipinas’ loss to Brazil that ended the Nationals’ bid to make the Paris Olympics, national coach Tim Cone on Saturday said there is still something pleasant to take away from the campaign.
“It’s hard to talk about this after you lose but it’s a growth experience for us,” Cone said on the heels of a 71-60 defeat at the hands of the World No. 12 Brazil in the semifinal of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Arena Riga. FULL STORY
🇧🇷 Brazil took out the Philippines with a blistering second-half show!#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/xriZDmYgpN
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 6, 2024
The Filipino Dirk 🇵🇭🤩#FIBAOQT
📺 https://t.co/ranzibgXcN
💻 https://t.co/7XnyzSmK1z pic.twitter.com/b7QCrEbk8P— FIBA (@FIBA) July 6, 2024
Gilas’ Olympic dream ends, bows out of Fiba OQT with loss to Brazil
Gilas Pilipinas ends if Fiba OQT run and dreams of making it to the Paris Olympics with a loss to Brazil in the semifinals. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas saw its dream to make it to the Paris Olympics end on Saturday night after losing to world No. 12 Brazil, 71-60, in the semifinals of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia.
A third-quarter meltdown for Gilas Pilipinas spelled the end after the Filipinos allowed Brazil to go on a crippling 24-6 run that erased whatever strong start they had to the game.
It was all Brazil from that point with its star Bruno Caboclo catching fire and fueling his team’s push for the Summer Games. Caboclo, who played for several NBA teams, finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. FULL STORY
Dwight Ramos: Close to what coach Tim said, it just takes one night. You don't show up and play your best, and you lose. That's just how good the teams are here. Today, we just didn’t play our best, and Brazil beat us. | via @sonrdINQ #FibaOQT pic.twitter.com/7bRfyO6L46
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 6, 2024
Coach Tim Cone: I don't know what to say. It's funny we didn't expect to be here, but then when we got here, we'd expect to win. So it's painful that we didn't, especially having that halftime lead. | via @sonrdINQ #FibaOQT pic.twitter.com/wGK2mX9wUD
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 6, 2024
YOU MADE US PROUD, GILAS PILIPINAS! 💪🇵🇭
Despite falling short against Brazil, 60-71, it was still a good run for #GilasPilipinas after reaching the semifinals of the #FibaOQT.
READ: https://t.co/jrB9py1Gly pic.twitter.com/2eff2jfFet
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 6, 2024
LOOK: Here’s how #GilasPilipinas scored and how Brazil bested the Nationals in virtually every statistical race by the end of the match.
via @sonrdINQ #FibaOQT pic.twitter.com/iLajuNk1bk
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 6, 2024
FINAL: #GilasPilipinas falls to Brazil, 71-60, in the #FibaOQT semifinal. The Filipinos kiss their Paris Olympics dreams goodbye.
via @sonrdINQ #FibaOQT pic.twitter.com/Y5n3jQJBdt
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 6, 2024
LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs Brazil
–By Celest Flores-Colina
FOURTH QUARTER
- FINAL SCORE: Brazil moves on to the Fiba OQT Riga Final, eliminating Gilas Pilipinas 71-60.
- Coach Tim Cone approaches the Brazil bench to shake hands even with still over a second remaining on the clock.
- CJ Perez scores for Gilas Pilipinas in what could be the country’s final point in this OQT.
- Georginho De Paula beats the shot clock. Everything just worked out for Brazil in the second half.
- CJ Perez splits the defense to bring Gilas Pilipinas within 69-58 with a minute to play.
- Gilas Pilipinas with a defensive stop, but Carl Tamayo botches his attempt on the other end.
- Carl Tamayo makes a 3 from the corner off Dwight Ramos’ steal! Gilas down 67-56, 2:04 left.
- June Mar Fajardo nails both freebies. Gilas Pilipinas down 14 points with 2:28 to play.
- Brazil mounts a 6-2 run for a 67-51 lead, forcing Gilas Pilipinas to call for time with 2:45 left. Last chance for the Filipinos to rally.
- Justin Brownlee finally scores a huge 3 to keep Gilas within striking distance! Gilas just down 61-49 with 4:11 to play.
- Bruno Caboclo carrying Brazil on his back. He makes 2 free throws to make it 61-46 lead with 4:50 left.
- Justin Brownlee picks up his fourth foul. He has not scored the entire second half so far.
- Bruno Caboclo completes an and-1 off Justin Brownlee foul. Brazil leads 59-46.
- Marcelinho Huertas makes a 3 to push Brazil’s lead back to double digits, 56-46.
- CJ Perez with a steal and a two. Gilas Pilipinas with a 5-0 run, trails Brazil 51-44 with 7:24 left.
- Dwight Ramos opens Gilas’ fourth quarter with a 3! The Filipinos now just down 51-42.
THIRD QUARTER
- END OF QUARTER: Brazil wrests control of the game with a 51-39 lead. Lucas Dias wraps up Brazil’s phenomenal third with a put-back.
- June Mar Fajardo with a jumper! But Brazil just hitting from everywhere to open a 49-39 lead with 44 seconds left.
- CJ Perez moves the needle for Gilas Pilipinas to cut into Brazil lead, 44-37.
- June Mar Fajardo salvages Chris Newsome’s miss to stop the bleeding for Gilas Pilipinas. Filipinos still trail 41-35. 3:58.
- More than 5 minutes into the third quarter and Gilas Pilipinas still scoreless. Brownlee firing blanks. Brazil ahead 41-33.
Caboclo slam prompts a PH timeout.
Cone points out that #GilasPilipinas is not moving the ball and warns that "the game is gonna get away in a hurry. Kiss this one goodbye right here. We can't take wild shots. We gotta take solid shots, fellas."@INQUIRERSports #FibaOQT
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 6, 2024
- June Mar Fajardo tries to put it up against Bruno Caboclo and he’s blocked. Another stop from Brazil.
- Total turnaround for Brazil here as it takes a 40-33 lead off a blazing 13-0 run with 6:31 on the clock. Gilas Pilipinas still scoreless in the third.
- Brazil has not missed a shot here in the third quarter.
- Leo Meindl also lights it up for the same corner and Brazil takes the lead 35-33 barely two minutes into the second half.
- Georginho De Paula left open from the left corner and makes a 3. Brazil just down 1, 33-32.
- Brazil opens the quarter with a quick 2 from Bruno Caboclo and Gilas’ lead is now down to 33-29.
HALFTIME STATS
Justin Brownlee leads all scorers with 12 points. Gilas also drew 8 from Dwight Ramos, who is perfect from the 3-point line, and 5 points from Chris Newsome. The Philippines went 4-of-8 from 3 in the first half.
No double digit scorers for Brazil so far but all players who were been fielded contributed at least 2 points. Yago Santos leads with 5.
SECOND QUARTER
- END OF QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas still in control with a 33-27 lead over Brazil.
- Bruno Caboclo misses a 3 as the time expires on Brazil.
- Didi Louzada finds a gap and takes it to the rim. Brazil cuts into Gilas’ lead 33-27 with 29 seconds left.
- Calvin Oftana providing quality rebounding for Gilas Pilipinas here.
- Justin Brownlee with his 12th point after another 3! Gilas lead back to double digits, 33-23.
- Cristiano Felicio converts Yago Santos’ miss and Brazil now just down 30-23 with 4:01 on the clock.
- Georginho De Paula with a long 2. Brazil down 30-21.
- Justin Brownlee left open off the inbound. Gilas pushes lead to 30-19. 5:33.
- June Mar Fajardo connects from mid range. Gilas leads 28-19.
- Brazil making a run. Yago Santos’s 3 cuts Gilas’ deficit to 26-19 with 6:43 on the clock.
FIRST QUARTER
- END OF QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas with a 22-12 lead over Brazil.
- Brownlee dribbles away the remaining time before attacking the basket. He’s headed to the free-throw line. He makes both.
- Leo Meindl ends the drought for Brazil and ends Gilas’ 8-0 run. Brazil behind 12-18.
- Chris Newsome splits his freethrows for Gilas’ biggest lead so far at 8, 18-10.
- Brownlee again, this time with 3! Gilas builds a 17-10 lead with 2:23 left in the first. Brazil sues for time.
- Justin Brownlee scores his first two and Gilas is up 14-10.
- Lucas Dias answers with 3 for Brazil to tie the game, but Dwight Ramos responds with a short stab. Gilas up 12-10.
- Japeth Aguilar with the putback! Gilas with a 10-7 lead.
- Back to back 3 pointers from Dwight Ramos! And Gilas Pilipinas takes the lead 8-7 at 5:24.
- Bruno Caboclo takes it strong to the hoop and finishes with a slam. Brazil 7-2, just over 7 minutes in the quarter.
- Chris Newsome gives Gilas its first basket. PH trails 5-2.
- Perfect opening sequence for Brazil. Fluid passing leads to a corner 3.
- Gilas Pilipinas starters vs Brazil: June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar.
- Players and coaches from Brazil and Philippines meet in the middle of the court and exchange gifts–a custom during Fiba games.
- Teams sing their respective national anthems.
Good luck, Gilas 🇵🇭!!!#LabanPilipinas pic.twitter.com/gaFvbUwHgn
— PBA (@pbaconnect) July 6, 2024
🇧🇷 ⚡ 🇵🇭
Grab your popcorn 🍿#FIBAOQT📺 https://t.co/ranzibgXcN
💻 https://t.co/7XnyzSmK1z pic.twitter.com/M7YWy54Cqi— FIBA (@FIBA) July 6, 2024
🚨 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🚨
Can Gilas Pilipinas beat Brazil for the first time ever?#FIBAOQT— FIBA (@FIBA) July 6, 2024
#GilasPilipinas will try to not only deny Brazil passage into the #FibaOQT final. This edition of the Philippine Five will also try to end a 72-year dry spell against the Cariocas.
PHI-BRA tonight @ 8:30 p.m. move closer to a chance to join the Paris showcase.@INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/YRfJORmsnq
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 6, 2024
Where to watch Gilas Pilipinas vs Brazil: TV, streaming
There are various ways to catch Gilas Pilipinas as it tries to barge into the final of the Fiba OQT against world No. 12 Brazil and continue its quest for the Paris Olympics. The game will air live on ONE Sports, RPTV and PBA Rush on free TV and cable and via online streaming on Pilipinas Live and Smart Livestream.
We are two wins away from qualifying for the Paris Olympics! 🙌
For the first time ever, the Gilas Pilipinas Men's National Team will compete in the Semifinals of the FIBA OQT when it faces Brazil this July 6 at 8:30PM.
Laban Pilipinas! #Puso pic.twitter.com/E9syNeB3qk
— SBP (@officialSBPinc) July 5, 2024
Gilas faces Brazil with Paris Olympics just two wins away
Gilas Pilipinas headed to the Fiba OQT semifinals. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas’ path to the Paris Games goes through Brazil, a nation steep with a glorious Olympic past and one that seems to have quite an edge on the Filipinos.
Aside from a world No. 12 ranking and a history of dominating the Philippines on the world stage, the Cariocas are littered with a bevy of NBA-tested talents that could easily outshine Gilas’ standouts on paper.
But the Nationals aren’t entering their 8:30 p.m. confrontation on Saturday thinking like cattle being led to the slaughter house. Thanks to a stunning upset of world No. 6 Latvia and a gutsy stand versus desperate Georgia, Gilas has reached a level of confidence that it has never had in the past. FULL STORY
Brazil braces for ‘highly technical’ Gilas in Fiba OQT semifinals
Coach Aleksandar Petrovic and Brazil face Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba OQT semifinals in Riga, Latvia. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Brazil knows the caliber of the Gilas Pilipinas team that stands in the way of its goal to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Brazil and the Philippines square off in the semifinals of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, the penultimate roadblock to securing one of the remaining spots for the Paris Summer Games.
Game time is at 8:30 pm with a victory sending either team into the Fiba OQT Final against either Latvia or Cameroon. FULL STORY
Forcing OT vs Georgia wasn’t an option for Gilas, says Tim Cone
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone’ after the Philippines’ loss to Georgia in the Fiba OQT group phase. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone said he didn’t want to risk going overtime against Georgia to try and salvage a win even with the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) semifinal berth secured.
When Gilas trailed Georgia, 93-96, with 14 seconds remaining, Cone called a timeout and decided with his coaching staff not to force extra regulation. The Filipinos then milked the clock before Chris Newsome drew a foul from Giorgi Ochkhikidze with 2.8 ticks left. FULL STORY
Tim Cone says Gilas star Justin Brownlee ‘should be in the NBA’
Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee puts on another sensational game to help secure the Fiba OQT semifinals ticket. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone believes NBA teams missed an opportunity to have “a big moment guy and best teammate ever” in Justin Brownlee as Philippine basketball continues to gain from his storied career.
Brownlee is the biggest key to Gilas moving within just two wins away from entering the Paris Olympics after leading the team with an average of 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists to reach the semifinal of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga. FULL STORY
Gilas Pilipinas Fiba OQT semifinals schedule
Riga, Latvia
8:30pm–Brazil vs Philippines-Gilas Pilipinas (July 6)
12 am– Cameroon vs Latvia (July 7)
FULL FIBA OQT RIGA SCHEDULE HERE.