Gilas Pilipinas in the thick of things (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News)

BULACAN — In the inaugural match of the FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas failed to maintain their momentum in the first three quarters and allowed a hugely taller Dominican Republic squad to secure a hard-fought 87-81 victory before a record 38,000 spectators at the Philippine Arena here.

Gilas held a narrow three-point lead, 72-69, thanks to Jordan Clarkson’s successful free throws with just under six minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, this advantage quickly slipped away. The Dominican Republic responded with consecutive three-pointers, the last one coming from Karl-Anthony Towns, propelling them ahead at 75-72 with 5:58 on the clock.

Despite their efforts, Gilas managed to stay competitive, narrowing the gap to 74-75 and then 77-76 through Junmar Fajardo’s free throws and jumper. Unfortunately, this was the last significant surge from the national team. A critical five-second inbound violation occurred at the 3:50 mark, halting their momentum.

Jordan Clarkson led the scoring for Gilas Pilipinas with 28 points, while Junmar Fajardo contributed 16 points.

Throughout the first half, the tenacity of Team Gilas Pilipinas was evident. They prevented the Dominican Republic from extending their lead beyond six points, maintaining a tight game at 17-11. Earl Scottie Carreon Thompson’s three-pointer disrupted the opposition’s efforts to build a larger lead, bringing the Nationals back into contention at 17-14.

As the first half concluded, Gilas managed to level the score at 42-42 thanks to a slam dunk by Rhenz Abando. Abando, a 6-foot-2 professional basketball player, had previously played for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippine Basketball Association before joining Anyang KGC in the Korean Basketball League. He began his college basketball journey with the UST Growling Tigers.

Gilas Pilipinas (Photo from FIBA)

MANILA – Now it can be told.

The lineup of 12 individuals designated to represent the Philippines in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 has been unveiled.

Al Panlilio, the President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), officially disclosed the finalized roster of Gilas Pilipinas to ABS-CBN News.

Outlined below is the list of 12 players comprising the Gilas Pilipinas squad for the World Cup:

Rhenz Abando
Japeth Aguilar
Jordan Clarkson
AJ Edu
June Mar Fajardo
Jamie Malonzo
CJ Perez
RR Pogoy
Dwight Ramos
Kiefer Ravena
Kai Sotto
Scottie Thompson

The Philippines will embark on their World Cup journey commencing on August 25, squaring off against the Dominican Republic.

Anticipated to be in the presence of a record-breaking audience at the Philippine Arena, this event marks the start of their campaign.

(ai/mnm)

Team Gilas Pilipinas poses with the national team of Ivory Coast following a tune-up game on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of the SBP).

MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas basketball team is poised to wrap up its series of preparatory matches ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a face-off against Mexico.

Scheduled for Monday at 8:00 PM, the Philippine team will clash with Mexico, currently ranked 31st in the world, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Drawing on their experience from the 2014 World Cup in Spain, Mexico relies on their dynamic playmakers and lethal shooting prowess, which have led to several remarkable upsets against the United States over the past two years.

Leading the charge for Mexico are key offensive contributors such as Paul Stoll, Pako Cruz, Orlando Mendez, and Gabriel Giron, while Daniel Amigo and Joshua Ibarra will anchor the team’s presence in the paint.

Coming off a recent friendly game against Montenegro, Gilas will utilize this contest to further integrate Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto, and Scottie Thompson into their system, aiming to reduce the turnover count that reached 18 in their previous match.

In reference to the new additions to the team, former Philippines head coach and current Serbia mentor Rajko Toroman, who observed the Ivory Coast tuneup, commented, “This is the first game with Jordan Clarkson. They need time to iron out everything, to build the chemistry. But you can see that Clarkson brings a lot to the game; he showcased dominant play here. It’s just a matter of establishing chemistry among all the players.”

Toroman, also a former consultant for Barako Bull, praised the current crop of national team players, asserting, “They possess size and all-around skills, even players with international exposure like Kiefer Ravena and Dwight Ramos. I believe this is the strongest team in the history of Philippine basketball.”

On the other side of the court, the Filipino squad faces similarities in their game against Montenegro, where they encountered the challenge of Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic. Standing at 6-foot-9, the former Orlando Magic center presents an array of offensive skills, reminiscent of Karl Anthony-Towns, who will lead the Dominican Republic in their inaugural match at the Philippine Arena on the 25th. (ai/mnm)

Coach Chot Reyes (Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net)

With less than three weeks remaining until Gilas Pilipinas’ debut game at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, national coach Chot Reyes is confronted with the formidable task of selecting the final 12 players from the current 20-man pool.

Undoubtedly, this assignment comes with its own set of complexities, given the dedication and sweat the players have poured into their preparation, coupled with the setbacks they’ve encountered due to injuries.

Reflecting on the 2007 FIBA Asia Cup in Tokushima, China, during his previous stint as head coach, Reyes recalled the process of trimming the team to the final 12 as an exceedingly arduous one.

“In the 2007 Tokushima tournament, our final decisions included leaving out James Yap, RDO (Ranidel de Ocampo), and Tony dela Cruz. Narrowing it down to the final 12 was an incredibly demanding task,” shared Reyes in a recent video interview with former PBA commissioner Noli Eala on his Power and Play sports program.

“The upcoming selection process (for the 2023 Gilas roster) will be equally challenging; it’s an integral aspect of the job,” he added.

However, knowing that finalizing the Gilas 12 is an unavoidable facet of his role, the 60-year-old national coach has set forth a specific set of criteria for the players who will make the cut.

“I’ve consistently emphasized that players must align with our desired style of play, complement each other’s strengths, and be in peak physical condition,” explained Reyes, whose team is presently competing in the three-nation 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in Guangdong, China.

“These factors will carry as much weight as the players’ tenure with the group.”

Nevertheless, Reyes expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming World Cup challenge, acknowledging that he will undertake one of the most significant tests of his basketball career with a dedicated group of players.

“To be completely honest, I’m excited. However, I’m also apprehensive about finalizing the roster, as those decisions will undoubtedly be incredibly tough. Nonetheless, I’m invigorated and inspired by the team’s camaraderie,” shared Reyes, who just last May guided Gilas to recapture the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Southeast Asian Games, triumphing over a Cambodia team bolstered by several foreign players.

Highlighting the resilience of the 13-man Gilas squad competing in Heyuan, who endured a grueling six-hour bus journey to the playing venue before facing a tall and versatile Senegalese team, Reyes noted, “Even so, our Gilas players faced off against Senegal, a formidable team boasting several 7-footers. I observed the team’s resilience and determination firsthand.”

“When you have players of such caliber, it instills excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead,” he added.

At the time of this post, Gilas is set to face Senegal once more on Sunday evening before concluding their competition in China against Iran’s B Team on Monday night. (ai/mnm)

Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the FIBA World Cup are once again hindered by injuries, this time affecting TNT’s seasoned center, John Paul “Poy” Erram, who is grappling with an arthritic knee.

According to Gilas’ physical therapist, Dexter Aseron, the 6-foot-8 Erram is under the care of Dr. Marc Castro, a respected Filipino orthopedic surgeon from the Makati Medical Center.

The persistent issue with Erram’s knee has been identified as arthritis, and it has been a cause of concern for the player.

Aseron revealed that they have been carefully managing Erram’s condition, especially given his history of knee surgeries, which he underwent during his UAAP days as part of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“He’s had a number of previous surgeries on both knees dating back to college,” shared Aseron, who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas College of Rehabilitation Sciences and currently serves as both Gilas and TNT’s strength and conditioning coach.

While they await Dr. Castro’s final recommendation, they have not ruled out Erram’s participation in the final 12 of the Gilas roster.

The 34-year-old player is presently focused on knee strengthening, and his availability for selection will depend on how he responds to the treatment in the coming days.

Despite this setback, the team remains hopeful that Erram will recover in time to contribute to Gilas Pilipinas’ endeavors.

(ai/mnm)

As the 29-year-old FIBA Basketball World Cup attendance record beckons to be shattered, and the renowned Philippine Arena aims to add another milestone to its illustrious history, Gilas Pilipinas is ready to take center stage.

The team will proudly step onto the grand stage of the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena on August 25, followed by the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 27 and 29, with a singular focus – to defend its homecourt at any cost.

Rivals from distant lands will be converging upon the Philippines – Dominican Republic from the Caribbean, Angola from Africa, and Italy from fabulous Europe.

Placed in Group A, the Philippines faces the task of conquering at least two of these formidable opponents to secure their spot in the second round of the Group Stage. In the next phase, the top two teams from Group B, comprising South Sudan, Serbia, China, and Puerto Rico, eagerly await.

The anticipation for the tournament is soaring, with fans eager to witness history unfold.

The host nation has a singular chance to surpass the previous spectator record of 32,616, set during the 1994 FIBA World Cup championship between the United States Dream Team II and Russia.

The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, will be the battleground where this epic attempt at breaking the record will take place.

The colossal Philippine Arena holds a standing gate record of 54,589 for a sporting event, established during Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last January, making it an ideal venue for the upcoming basketball extravaganza.

On August 25, all eyes will be on the Philippine Arena, with the possibility of a local inter-agency task force declaring it a special public holiday to facilitate fans’ attendance.

While setting a new attendance record would be remarkable, the ultimate triumph for Gilas Pilipinas would be securing a victory over the formidable Dominican Republic, ranked 23rd in the world, with the support of a roaring hometown crowd. Such a win would infuse the team with invaluable momentum for their subsequent matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In the subsequent matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the iconic Sixth Man, the passionate Filipino basketball fans, will once again play a crucial role as Gilas Pilipinas faces Angola, ranked 41st, and Italy, ranked 10th in the FIBA standings. The support of the home crowd could provide the necessary fortitude for the team to excel, especially during challenging moments.

With its rich history, the Smart Araneta Coliseum has witnessed legendary sporting events, including the unforgettable “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975, and the 1978 FIBA World Championship. The atmosphere inside the packed arena has the potential to ignite the team’s performance and intimidate their opponents.

In previous editions of the FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas faced daunting challenges without the support of their home crowd and fell short in some closely contested games. However, this time, with the advantage of playing on home soil, the narrative could be different.

The fervent Filipino fans, armed with foam fingers, balloon sticks, placards, and posters, are ready to rally behind their national team. The desire for payback and the determination to protect their own turf will serve as powerful incentives and motivations for Gilas Pilipinas.

As the record crowd chants resound in both the Philippine Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum, one thing is clear: the team is determined to make a bold statement – NOT IN OUR TURF!

(ai/mnm)

In the lead-up to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes has been forthright in expressing the team’s objective — to emerge as the top Asian team. Such an achievement would secure a coveted spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Gilas Pilipinas finds itself grouped with the Dominican Republic (ranked 23rd in the world), Angola (41st), and Italy (ranked 10th) in Group A during the opening round.

Meanwhile, China, a 16-time Asian champion, is placed in Group B alongside sixth-ranked Serbia, Puerto Rico (ranked 20th), and South Sudan (ranked 62nd).

Following the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the second group phase, while the bottom two teams will enter the classification phase.

Gilas faces challenges, including injury concerns and the absence of key players like Kai Sotto and NBA star Jordan Clarkson from team practice. With just a month left, the team is striving to develop a cohesive unit that can secure crucial victories during the group stage.

Before the FIBA World Cup, the Philippine team is scheduled to participate in a pocket tournament in Guangdong, China, where they will compete against Iran, Lebanon, and Senegal.

Additionally, they recently completed a 16-day Europe training camp, playing tuneup matches against Estonia, Finland, Ukraine’s under-20 team, and two Lithuanian squads, ending with a 3-3 record in those matches.

Reyes also confirmed that Gilas will have a friendly match against Mexico, just one week before their FIBA World Cup debut against the Dominican Republic on August 25th at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The stage is set for an intense battle as Gilas Pilipinas aims to seize the lone Olympic slot and potentially collide with powerhouse China in the process.

(ai/mnm)

In an uplifting development, Dwight Ramos, known for his exceptional shooting skills, has been given the green light to join Gilas Pilipinas after recovering from his leg injury.

The 24-year-old Filipino-American wingman made his presence felt during Friday’s practice session at the Meralco gym, bringing positive news to the Gilas Pilipinas team.

According to Dexter Aseron, the team therapist for Gilas, Ramos is in good shape and has been actively participating in practice since Thursday. “All good with Dwight, he’s been practicing already since yesterday (Thursday),” Aseron shared with the Manila Times.

Ramos was unable to take part in the team’s sixth and final tune-up game during their recent training camp in Europe due to his injury. (AI/MNM)