After tough end to FIBA OQT campaign, Chris Newsome focuses on "big picture" with Gilas Pilipinas

For PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chis Newsome, the outlook now is looking at the bigger picture after Gilas Pilipinas missed out on an Olympics berth for Paris 2024.

Gilas Pilipinas lost to Brazil in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, ending their hopes of seeing action at the Olympic Games in France later this month.

Still, Newsome took pride in the journey the national team had, a journey that saw them beat Latvia for the Philippines’ first win against a European team in six decades.

[Related: Gilas Pilipinas' Justin Brownlee makes All-Star 5 in FIBA OQT 2024 Riga]

"Looking at the bigger picture, we still did something great. We still did something a lot of people didn’t think we’re capable of doing,” Newsome said, as Gilas Pilipinas finished with a 1-2 record in the FIBA OQT in Riga.

"So that being said, I’m still proud of everybody in that locker room and proud of the journey that we’ve been on and what we’re able to accomplish in this short amount of time, there’s nothing to really be sad about or to hold our heads down,” he added.

After a tough stint in the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year, Gilas Pilipinas had the FIBA OQT as a last chance to make the Olympics, a stage Philippine basketball has not reached since 1972.

And while the wait will be extended for at least another four years, the goal and the determination to get there remains the same.

[Related: 'Now we know' | After impressive FIBA OQT campaign, Tim Cone insists Gilas needs to keep getting better]

"Of course, we want to get to the Olympics, that was the ultimate goal,” Newsome said.

"But again, this is just another stepping stone for us as a program to try to improve and continue to get better,” he added.

As Gilas Pilipinas under coach Tim Cone look to have a long-term approach, the focus shifts for what’s next for the national team, which include a fresh window for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

But as the next Gilas games are ways away, Newsome and his teammates look to recover and regroup. Due to multiple nagging injuries, the national team was forced to only take 11 players to Riga.

[Related: FIBA OQT: Tim Cone says injured Kai Sotto’s absence big loss as Gilas succumbs to Brazil in semis]

Once in Latvia, injury bug hit as well, with Kai Sotto sideline for all but six quarters of game time.

"I’m just praying that everybody gets back to being healthy first and foremost,” Newsome said.

"Everybody’s going to head back to their [respective] programs and organizations so I’m going to wish them well but until then we’re just going to keep moving forward and stay positive. Looking forward to more from this Gilas team,” he added.

(With reports from Nic Earnshaw/Cignal)