The Philippines got the hosting rights for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, thanks to SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and his relentless efforts. Against all odds, he will have the planet’s best hoopers converging in Manila and Bulacan.
As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, why don't we trace back the long arduous journey that led Team Pilipinas back to the world stage.
2009
The dream to qualify for the 2012 Olympics tipped off with the formation of Smart Gilas Pilipinas, coached by Serbian tactician Rajko Toroman. College stars such as Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca and Dylan Ababou alongside Fil-Am recruit Marcio Lassiter became part of the team. However, even with the help of naturalized player Marcus Douthit and a handful of PBA superstars led by Jimmy Alapag, the group fell short of reaching the London Games.
2012
Chot Reyes took over the program and chose to train a pool of PBA stars for a significant period, which paid off. In the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, Gilas 2.0 galvanized the whole nation as they defeated long-time tormentors South Korea to make it to the gold medal match. In the end, Team Philippines ended up with a second place finish and a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. At the Worlds, Gilas impressed the international hoops community in close losses against Croatia, Argentina and Puerto Rico. They ended up going home with one win, over Senegal.
2015
Gilas 3.0 under Coach Tab Baldwin looked promising as they once again won silver at the FIBA Asia Championship in Changsa, China. But a second place finish this time wasn’t good enough to make the 2016 Rio Olympics. They would get another crack at it with the country hosting an Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016. The thing is, Gilas was up against two powerhouse squads in France and New Zealand. No upset wins, no Olympic stint.
2016
A program called Gilas Cadets was designed to supply the national men’s basketball team with talent from the amateurs as opposed to plucking players from the PBA. The intention was great but the results were not. Consequently, Coach Chot was once again asked to handle Gilas Pilipinas while Jong Uichico was assigned to manage the Gilas Cadets.
2018
Coach Chot and his boys seemed to be doing well in FIBA’s new home-and-away format for the World Cup, posting a 4-1 slate before facing the Boomers for a chance at avenging their lone defeat. It was an opportunity that went to waste as the heated encounter led to a brawl inside the Philippine Arena. Suspensions were handed out not only to the players but also the coaches, which prompted the SBP to tap Yeng Guiao as the new Gilas headmaster.
2019
Despite the disarray, Gilas was able to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup under Coach Yeng. Expectations were high considering the spirited World Cup performance of Gilas 2.0 five years prior. Sadly, the team lost all its preliminary games and Yeng Guiao resigned shortly after. Going through a rebuilding process, the SBP banked on Tab Baldwin to lead Team Philippines back to prominence. As Gilas Program Director and head coach, the 3-time UAAP champion tactician captured the imagination of Pinoy hoop fans as he guided a group of amateur studs bannered by the likes of RJ Abarrientos and Carl Tamayo to a stirring performance against Serbia in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade.
2022
In early 2022, Tab Baldwin stunned the basketball public when he left his Gilas posts. The SBP then tapped Chot Reyes to fill in, causing an uproar that grew louder as the team suffered consecutive setbacks including a historic collapse at the SEA Games. Nonetheless, the SBP and Coach Chot gutted it out and with a couple of impressive wins at the November Asian Qualifiers, silenced the critics for the time being. At the moment, the excitement surrounding Gilas Pilipinas is at an all-time high with fans anticipating an inspiring display from their hoop heroes come 2023.