The window of opportunity for Gilas Pilipinas to secure a much-coveted Olympic slot for Paris 2024 is closing fast.
But all hope is not yet lost as Gilas will square up against hosts Latvia and Georgia this week for a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
[ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: Gilas Pilipinas schedule, where to watch, and all else you need to know]
While a tougher road awaits, Gilas Men still showcased flashes of brilliance in their final tune-up games before the OQT, falling short against Turkey and Poland in close encounters.
[ALSO READ: Gilas Pilipinas drop close call to Poland in final tuneup before FIBA OQT in Latvia]
With coach Tim Cone at the helm and a mixture of veteran and young blood bannering the lean 11–man roster, Gilas vies to finally end a five-decade Olympic drought.
But before a new set of OQT games start, let’s look back on how Gilas fared in last two Olympic Qualifying Tournaments:
2016 FIBA OQT (Manila) - Home heartbreak
Hopes were high for a chance of competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics after Gilas 3.0 went on a memorable run in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships. However, the Philippines fell one win short, settling for silver after a disappointing 78-67 loss to China in the finale.
With the likes of naturalized big man Andray Blatche and a prime Jayson Castro leading the way, Gilas overcame an opening-day loss to Palestine before winning seven straight games to arrange a title showdown with the hosts. Other members of that fateful squad included Calvin Abueva, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser, team captain Dondon Hontiveros, J.C. Intal, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Terrence Romeo, Asi Taulava, and Sonny Thoss.
Current Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin took the coaching helm of that Gilas roster.
Following that impressive run, Gilas had a second chance for Rio and was grouped with powerhouse France and New Zealand in the 2016 FIBA OQT which were hosted by the country at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Blatche, Castro, De Ocampo, Romeo, Abueva, Chan, Norwood, Pingris made up that roster alongside a returning June Mar Fajardo, and new additions in Troy Rosario, and a young Ray Parks Jr.
In their first game against France, Gilas nearly scored an upset win, leading by as many as 10 points against then-world no. 5 squad. The Philippines gave Les Bleus a giant scare until the final 3:15 when veterans Boris Diaw and Nando de Colo took control of the game en route to a 93-84 dub.
Blatche topscored the Philippines with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Romeo went toe-to-toe with De Colo and Tony Parker and chipped in 19.
Motivated to redeem themselves, Gilas Pilipinas were poised to score a bounce back a day after.
Only, New Zealand had other plans.
Tai and Corey Webster broke the hearts of the Philippine team. scoring a combined for 48 points to lead the Tall Blacks to a decisive 89-80 win, ending Gilas’ Olympic dreams.
Blatche led Gilas with a 30-point outing, while Casto, Fajardo, and Chan combined for 35.
2021 FIBA OQT (Serbia) - Youthful Brigade
Five years later, Gilas Pilipinas returned to the OQT stage, with younger faces at the forefront.
The Philippines found itself with a golden opportunity after New Zealand pulled out in the 2021 FIBA OQT, joining then host and fifth-seeded Serbia and 19th-seeded Dominican Republic in Group A.
Kai Sotto and Ange Kouame headlined that youthful Gilas team alongside Dwight Ramos, Isaac Go, Mike Nieto, Justine Baltazar, William Navarro, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, Carl Tamayo, Jordan Heading, and Geo Chiu.
The 2021 squad went on to give Serbia, then led by NBA players Milos Teodosic and Boban Marjanovic, a run for their own money before succumbing to the hosts, 83-76.
Gilas bowed out of the competition behind a 94-67 decision against Dominican Republic in the next game despite holding a 41-39 halftime lead.
2024 FIBA OQT (Latvia) - Redeem Team?
Back in a familiar, the latest version of Gilas Pilipinas arguably have the best momentum, especially coming off a historic Asian Games title run in 2023 and a perfect start to the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers earlier this year.
[ALSO READ: Gilas ends 61-year gold medal drought in Asian Games after beating Jordan]
The winningest coach in the PBA in Tim Cone takes the lead, alongside a roster that features Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Chris Newsome, and June Mar Fajardo, aiming to overcome the odds and claim the lone Olympic slot up for grabs in Riga.
Can they do the unthinkable and secure a Paris 2024 ticket?
Story summary:
· Gilas Pilipinas is set to compete against Latvia and Georgia this week for a chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the team's performance showing promise in recent close games against Turkey and Poland.
· In the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila, Gilas had a strong performance but fell short against powerhouse teams France and New Zealand. In the 2021 OQT, a youthful Gilas team put up a valiant effort but was ultimately defeated by Serbia and the Dominican Republic.
· Coached by Tim Cone and featuring key players like Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, and June Mar Fajardo, the current Gilas Pilipinas squad aims to overcome significant odds to secure the lone Olympic slot available in Riga, building on their recent successes in the SEA Games and Asian Games.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]