Gilas Pilipinas, Latvia, Georgia, Brazil, Cameroon, and Montenegro will 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
Philippines vs Latvia: July 4, Thursday
- 12:00 a.m. (PH time) LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live
Philippines vs Georgia: July 4, Thursday
- 8:30 p.m. (PH time) LIVE on One Sports, RPTV, Pilipinas Live
- 9:30 p.m. telecast on One Sports+
Other OQT games
Slovenia vs Croatia: July 3, Wednesday
- 2:00 a.m. (PH time) LIVE on One Sports+, Pilipinas Live
Dominican Republic vs Greece: July 4, Thursday
- 2:00 a.m. (PH time) LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live
New Zealand vs Slovenia: July 4, Thursday
- 10:30 p.m. (PH time) LIVE on One Sports, Pilipinas Live
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
- Mason Amos, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Justin Brownlee, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Quiambao
Tune-up games (0-1):
- Turkey def. Philippines, 84-73
[ALSO READ: 11 brave men: Get to know the Gilas players for the FIBA OQT in the eyes of Tim Cone]
#6 Latvia (Pool)
- Artis Ate, Dairis Bertans, Davis Bertans, Klavs Cavars, Andrejs Grazulis, Kriss Helmanis, Arturs Kurucs, Rodions Kurucs, Martins Laksa, Toms Leimanis, Rihards Lomazs, Mareks Mejeris, Anzejs Pasecniks, Rolands Smits, Aigars Skele, Karlis Silins, Ojars Silins, Marcis Steinbergs, Arturs Strautins, Janis Strelnieks, Janis Timma, Arturs Zagars, Kristers Zoriks
Tune-up games (1-1):
- Latvia def. Egypt, 84-63
- Finland def. Latvia, 90-84
#23 Georgia (Pool)
- Filip Andusic, Vasilije Bacovic, Luka Bogavac, Igor Drobnjak, Emir Hadzibegovic, Aleksa Ilic, Jovan Kljajic, Zoran Nikolic, Kendrick Perry, Petar Popovic, Jonah Radebaugh, Dino Radoncic, Marko Simonovic, Andrija Slavkovic , Zoran Vuceljic, Nikola Vucevic, Fedor Zugic
Tune-up games (1-2):
- Georgia def. Italy, 79-68
- Cameroon def. Georgia, 67-66
- Georgia def. Egypt, 78-46
Group B
#12 Brazil (Pool)
- Marcelo Huertas, Alexey Borges, Yago dos Santos, Elinho Corazza, Raulzinho, Georginho, Didi Louzada, Vitor Benite, Leo Meindl, Gui Deodato, Gui Santos, Lucas Dias, Gabriel Jaú, Tim Soares, Bruno Caboclo, João Marcelo “Maozinha”, Cristiano Felicio
Tune-up games (1-2)
- Brazil def. Poland, 91-75
- Croatia def. Brazil, 91-81
- Slovenia def. Brazil, 86-80
#68 Cameroon (Pool)
- Fabien Ateba, Tmenang Achu Choh, Samir Gbetkom, Jeremiah Hill, Arnold Kome, Charles Minlend Jr., Aristide Mouaha, Roland Nyama, John Tonje, Jordan Bayehe, Juslin Bodo Bodo, Paul Herman Eboua, Brice Eyaga Bidias, Ulrich Kamka Chomche, Roger Moute a Bidias, Williams Narace, Boe Nguidjol, Russel Tchewa, Abdou Tsimbila
Tune-up games (2-0)
- Cameroon def. Egypt, 78-74
- Cameroon def. Georgia, 67-66
#17 Montenegro (Pool)
- Rati Andronikashvili, Avtandil Bakhtadze, Giorgi Bakradze, Beka Bekauri, Goga Bitadze, Otari Buliava, Beka Burjanadze, Nikoloz Gaprindashvili, Kakhaber Jintcharadze, Davit Kakushadze, George Korsantia, Ilia Londaridze, Alexander Mamukelashvili, Luka Maziashvili, Nikoloz Metskhvarishvili, Giorgi Ochkhikidze, Aleksandre Phevadze, Otar Pkhakadze, Duda Sanadze, Tornike Shengelia, Joe Thomasson, Tsotne Tsartsidze, Giorgi Turdziladze
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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