FIBA ASIA CUP 2017 : GILAS PILIPINAS SWEEPS GROUP B AS MORE THAN 2000 FILIPINOS CHEER ON

Gilas Pilipinas went on to sweep Group A of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon by beating Qatar, 80 - 74. With June Mar Fajardo still injured and Christian Standhardinger also sitting out due to a bad case of stiff neck, the Philippines had to rely on the sweet shooting of Matthew Right who finished with 25 points which included 7 three pointers.

Calvin Abueva also slipped in the second quarter and was not able to come back, our big guys having early foul trouble and Terrence Romeo was also misfiring, Gilas Pilipinas was able to play good team ball and had great performances from Gabe Norwood and Carl Bryan Cruz.

But what made this win special is that more than 15 bus fulls of Filipinos came out to support the team and the stadium felt like homecourt for the team. It is really amazing how Filipinos support Gilas where ever they play. They also get a chance to meet their idols after the game.

More than 2,000 Filipinos in Beirut to meet the Gilas Pilipinas: https://t.co/dfQQEM8F7X 😵🇵🇭🎉 #FIBAAsiaCup2017 pic.twitter.com/wWKj5xlkSX

— FIBA (@FIBA) August 13, 2017

With this win, Gilas Pilipinas advances automatically to the the quarterfinals, joining other top teams from the other groups - Australia, New Zealand and Iran. They will be battling against the winner of the game tonight between Korea and Japan. Whoever wins will definitely be a challenge for Gilas since both Korea has been a constant antagonist of Gilas while Japan gave us a good fight in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships.

With 3 days rest, the Filipinos will definitely prepare hard for the game on Wednesday. Surely, Standhardinger and Abueva will be back to play and all are playing for June Mar to be able to play as well.

Laban Pilipinas!

GILAS PILIPINAS: JUNE MAR WILL SIT OUT FIBA ASIA CUP DUE TO INJURY

Another unexpected blow to the Gilas Pilipinas campaign was all over Twitter world today. It was announced this afternoon that June Mar Fajardo might miss out on the Gilas campaign at the FIBA Asia Cup after injuring his calf during the San Miguel - Talk N Text game last Wednesday.

The 3 time and reigning PBA MVP apparently has a strained right calf muscle and will be out for at least a couple of weeks. It was also reported that June Mar will still travel with the team to Lebanon to observe on the playing style of the other countries, maybe for preparation for the World Cup qualifiers which will start before the year ends.

Here is the medical certificate which was given to the media by the PBA Commissioner:

Copy June Mar Fajardo's medical report (distributed by Comm. Narvasa). The Kraken will miss the 2017 FIBA-Asia Cup | @abscbnsports pic.twitter.com/83kVBxP7xl

— Paul Kennedy Lintag (@paullintag8) August 4, 2017

Gilas coach Chot Reyes then posted this in his Twitter account:

As the size gets smaller & the number dwindles, the fight grows bigger as the heart expands even more. #💪🇵🇭❤️

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) August 4, 2017

Another Gilas player was also reported to be injured. Returning Gilas defense specialist Gabe Norwood was also reported to be injured and will also be out of the FIBA Asia campaign. In his Twitter account, Gabe posted this:

I'm hurt?

— Gabe Norwood (@GNorwood5) August 4, 2017

He was then quick to clarify that he is not hurt and will play in FIBA Asia Cup.

I'm not hurt

— Gabe Norwood (@GNorwood5) August 4, 2017

Given all of what has happened, with the limited preparation that we have, I am tempering my expectations of our placing in this tournament. But who knows? We might still pull off some surprise wins.

But one thing is for sure, I am still supporting Gilas Pilipinas. Puso!

GILAS PILIPINAS: LINE UP FOR THE 2017 FIBA ASIA CUP REVEALED

The line up of the Gilas Pilipinas for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup 2017 has been revealed shortly after the deadline last Tuesday night. Coach Chot Reyes posted this tweet in his account :

12 men; 12 practices; hopefully for 12 days in Beirut #LabanPilipinasPuso pic.twitter.com/AIrfSKO2GV

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) July 25, 2017

The line up include Gilas veterans Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo, Raymond Almazan and reigning best point guard in Asia Jayson Castro. Making a comeback for Gilas is our defense specialist - Gabe Norwood.

Also making the line up are Gilas cadets from the SEABA champion team RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright and Jio Jalalon. Making his first seniors mens team appearance is cadet Carl Bryan Cruz. Our naturalized player for this tournament is Fil-German Christian Standhardinger who impressed us in his Jones Cup performance.

Notably absent from the line up as compared to the SEABA team are Allein Maliksi, Troy Rosario and Andray Blatche, Troy will instead play with the remaining Gilas cadets in the Southeast Asian Games and try to retain the country's supremacy in the region. Blatche on the other hand said that there are multiple reasons on why the cannot join the team in Lebanon.

The FIBA Asia Cup will be on August 9 to 20, 2017 in Lebanon and games will be aired in TV% and Aksyon TV.

GILAS PILIPINAS : FINAL 12 FOR 2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP NAMED

The final 12 members of Gilas Pilipinas that will try to get the ticket to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games has been named by Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas. The announcement came on the night of the deadline of the final team rosters for the event which will happen in 2 weeks time.

The Gilas pool has just came back from a silver medal finish from the 2015 Jones Cup in Taiwan and is now preparing for the inaugural 2015 MVP Cup which is their final preparation before the Asian Championship in China.

The final 12 players are Gilas 2.0 holdovers Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Gabe Norwood and Jayson Castro; veterans Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros, Sonny Thoss, Matt Ganuelas, Gilas rookies JC Intal, Calvin Abueva and Terence Romeo and naturalized player Andray Blatche.

NBA sophomore Jordan Clarkson was initially in the list but has not yet been given the green light by FIBA to play as a natural born citizen is out of the final line up. There is also schedule conflicts due to the preparations for the upcoming NBA season. But kudos to Clarkson for expressing his interest to play for the flag and country.

Big thank you as well to the other players in the pool for not turning your backs to the flag's call - Gary David, Aldrech Ramos, Jimmy Alapag (who I think will be an assistant coach) and PBA rookies Troy Rosario and Moala Tautua.

2014 fiba world cup: gilas pilipinas versus argentina

gilas pilipinas suffered another heartbreaking loss, now in the hands of the world's number 3 team - argentina, 81-85.

the philippines actually started strong, leading in the first quarter up to the start of the 2nd quarter. argentina then held its ground and lead as much as 15 points early in the fourth quarter. the filipinos did not give up and eventually caught up and was down by only 2 points during the last minute of the game. unfortunately, several missed shots and errors later, argentina escaped with the win.

ranidel de ocampo posted 18 points, leading the team but it was the heroics of jimmy alapag that kept us in the game. his leadership in the court is unmatched and he delivered 5 crucial 3 point shots in the second half. gabe norwood also showed his great defense and got two magnificent dunk shots, one even on the face of argentina's nba veteran, luis scola.

here are the highlights of the game:

gilas needs to win both of its final two assignments in the group round. it will face puerto rico on september 3 7:30pm and senegal on september 4 8pm (manila time).

we still have hope to advance to thr round of 16. let us all pray for gilas pilipinas. laban pilipinas!

video is from fiba's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJLRmewbkeY&list=UUtInrnU3QbWqFGsdKT1GZtg

official song of the 2014 fiba world cup - sube la copa

here is the official video of the official song of the 2014 fiba world cup; sube la copa by huecco:

the video features gabe norwood, japhet aguilar and ranidel de ocampo of gilas pilipinas.

2 days to go before the return of the philippines to the world basketball scene! laban pilipinas!

video is from huecco's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP6g7GJdPhk