Gilas Pilipinas, Latvia, Brazil, and Cameroon remain to battle for the lone ticket available in Riga for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Gilas Pilipinas will get another chance of reaching the Olympic Games Paris 2024. But this road may be way tougher than the path offered back in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Here's what you need to know--from key facts, rosters, tournament format, game schedule, and where to watch.
Gilas Pilipinas schedule and where to watch
Semifinals
Brazil vs Philippines, July 6
Group Stage
Philippines vs Latvia: July 4, Thursday
Philippines vs Georgia: July 4, Thursday
FIBA OQT Riga results so far
Semifinals
- Brazil vs Philippines, July 6
- Cameroon vs Latvia, July 7
Group A
- Latvia def. Georgia, 83-55
- Philippines def. Latvia, 89-80
- Georgia def. Philippines, 96-94
| Latvia* | 1/1 | 19 | 3 |
| Philippines* | 1/1 | 7 | 3 |
| Georgiaº | 1/1 | -26 | 3 |
*Semifinals | ºEliminated
[ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: Gilas Pilipinas scenarios against Georgia to reach semifinals]
Group B
- Brazil def. Montenegro, 81-72
- Montenegro def. Cameroon, 70-66
- Cameroon def. Brazil, 77-74
| Brazil* | 1/1 | 6 | 3 |
| Cameroon* | 1/1 | -1 | 3 |
| Montenegroº | 1/1 | -5 | 3 |
*Semifinals | ºEliminated
Other OQT games
Slovenia vs Croatia: July 3, Wednesday
- Croatia def. Slovenia, 108-92
Dominican Republic vs Greece: July 4, Thursday
- Greece def. Dominican Republic, 109-82
New Zealand vs Slovenia: July 4, Thursday
- Slovenia def. New Zealand, 104-78
What is the FIBA OQT and how did we get here?
The men's basketball tournament of the Olympic Games this year only has 12 slots. Seven of those were secured by Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Serbia, South Sudan, and USA during the World Cup last year. France received automatic qualification as host.
The four remaining slots will be the prize of the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which would be held in Latvia, Greece, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
These OQTs feature the 19 best placed non-qualified teams from the World Cup, and the five winners of the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
Tournament format
The 24 countries have been distributed among the four tournaments, featuring six squads in each location.
These six squads have been divided into two groups of three. The countries in each group will play in a single round robin.
The team with the worst record will be eliminated.
Then, the top two teams in each group will compete in the crossover knockout semifinals and the final game.
There is no consolation here. The one and only prize is the Olympics berth for the winner.
Rosters and preparation
Group A
#37 Philippines
- Guards: Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos
- Forward: Calvin Oftana, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Quiambao, Justin Brownlee, Carl Tamayo
- Centers: Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Mason Amos
- Head Coach: Tim Cone
Tune-up games (0-2):
- Turkiye def. Philippines, 84-73
- Poland def. Philippines, 82-80
[ALSO READ: 11 brave men: Get to know the Gilas players for the FIBA OQT in the eyes of Tim Cone]
#6 Latvia
- Guards: Dairis Bertans, Janis Strelnieks, Rihards Lomazs, Arturs Zagars, Kristers Zoriks
- Forwards: Rodions Kurucs, Mareks Mejeris, Davis Bertans, Janis Timma, Rolands Smits, Arturs Strautins
- Center: Klavs Cavars
- Head Coach: Luca Banchi
Tune-up games (1-1):
- Latvia def. Egypt, 84-63
- Finland def. Latvia, 90-84
#23 Georgia
- Guards: Rati Andronikashvili, Duda Sanadze, Luka Maziashvili, Joe Thomasson, Giorgi Ochkhikidze
- Forwards: Alexander Mamukelashvili, Kakhaber Jintcharadze, George Korsantia, Aleksandre Phevadze, Tornike Shengelia, Ilia Londaridze
- Center: Goga Bitadze
- Head Coach: Aleksandar Dzikic
Tune-up games (1-2):
- Georgia def. Italy, 79-68
- Cameroon def. Georgia, 67-66
- Georgia def. Egypt, 78-46
Group B
#12 Brazil
- Guards: Yago Santos, Cristiano Felicio, Didi Louzada, Vitor Benite, Marcelinho Huertas, Gui Santos, Raul Neto, Georginho de Paula
- Forward: Leo Meindl, Joao Cardoso, Bruno Caboclo, Lucas Dias
- Head Coach: Aleksandar Petrovic
Tune-up games (1-2)
- Brazil def. Poland, 91-75
- Croatia def. Brazil, 91-81
- Slovenia def. Brazil, 86-80
#68 Cameroon
- Guards: Samir Gbetkom, Fabien Ateba, Jeremiah Hill
- Forwards: Paul Eboua, Tamenang Choh, Brice Eyaga Bidias, Arnold Kome, Roland Nyama, Roger Moute A Bidias, Jordan Bayehe, Abdourachid Tetchueng, Williams Narace
- Head Coach: Aboya Baliaba
Tune-up games (2-0)
- Cameroon def. Egypt, 78-74
- Cameroon def. Georgia, 67-66
#17 Montenegro
- Guards: Andrija Slavkovic, Djordije Jovanovic, Igor Drobnjak, Petar Popovic, Luka Bogavac, Kendrick Perry
- Forwards: Vasilije Bacovic, Aleksa Ilic, Emir Hadzibegovic, Dino Radoncic
- Centers: Nikola Vucevic, Marko Simonovic
Head Coach: Bosko Radovic
Tune-up games (1-1):
- Greece def. Montenegro, 86-57
- Montenegro def. Bahrain, 93-80
[ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: Players to watch for Gilas Pilipinas in Riga]
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