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 : PHILIPPINES ELIMINATED IN THE GROUP STAGE OF THE FIBA OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

After 2 tough losses in as many days, the Philippine national basketball team - the Gilas Pilipinas has been eliminated from the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament being held held in Manila. The team dropped its two assignments in the group stage, ending winless and being eliminated.

World no. 28 ranked Gilas Pilipinas first took on no. 5 France Les Blues, which is led by no less than NBA star Tony Parker. After leading in the first quarter and majority of the 2nd quarter, the more experienced Frech team took the lead at the half and never looked back. Gilas threatened to come back in the 4th quarter, cutting the lead down from 13 to as low as 4 points. But the French team protected the lead and won with a score of 80 - 89.

Yesterday, Gilas went against the world no. 21 New Zealand Tall Blacks. The Kiwis was definitely on its A game and followed their game plan, limiting our naturalized player Andray Blatche to only 4 points in the first half. The Tall Blacks almost led all game long but again, the last quarter surge of the Philippines after curring the lead from 13 down to 5, fell short and eventually bowed down to the Kiwis with a score of 93 - 84.

The loss ended the hopes of the Gilas Pilipinas to qualify to the Olympics.

This might also be the last we see of some of the players wearing the Pilipinas jersey. Rumors has it that players like Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jeff Chan are planning to give way to younger players to be part of the national team. As of the writing, it is only RDO who has confirmed that he is indeed retiring from the national team with this post from his Twitter account :

I officially announce my goodbye of playing in Gilas Pilipinas Basketball! #PUSO

— Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) July 6, 2016

Despite the loss, Gilas is undoubtedly the most successful national team in the past 20 years. Theyw ere able to reach the World Cup in 2014 and win back to back silvers in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championships.

Eventhough we lost, let the lessons from these games make us stringer and better. Bounce back Gilas. Focus next on the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier where teams will be playing home and away games. With names such as Terence Romeo, Rayray Parks, June Mar Fajardo, Kobe Paras and Jordan Clarkson still willing to don the country's jersey, the future is still bright.

Heads up, Gilas Pilipinas! You still made us proud! Laban Pilipinas!