Gilas Pilipinas World Cup 2023 Preparations:
The Philippine Men’s Basketball Team, Gilas Pilipinas, is not only vying for a possible opportunity to make it to the second round of the 2023 World Cup hosted by our country, but the team is also gearing for a possible entry to the Olympic Games.
Gilas Pilipinas is trying to advance past the Basketball World Championship group stage, a huge task for the team. The 2023 World Cup is also an opportunity for the Philippines to get a possible spot in the 2024 Olympics since the World Cup serves as a qualifier for the Paris Games.
During the past few interviews with the Gilas Pilipinas management, Head Coach Chot Reyes mentioned that making it to the Olympics is also one of Gilas’s goals. With the addition of Jordan Clarkson to the Gilas Pilipinas squad, the possibilities are endless for the Philippines.
Philippine Men’s Basketball History:
The Philippine Men’s Basketball team last played in the Olympic Games in the 1972 Munich Games, wherein the nationals were represented by William “Bogs” Adornado, Narciso Bernardo, Ricardo “Joy” Cleofas, Danny Florencio, Jaime “Jimmy” Mariano, Rosalio “Yoyong” Martirez, Rogelio “Tembong” Melencio, Edgardo “Ed” Ocampo, Manny Paner, Jun Papa, Marte Samson, Freddie Webb, and Head Coach Ignacio “Ning” Ramos.
In the 1972 Munich Games, the Philippine Basketball Team ranked 13th out of the 16 nations participating in the basketball competition. The Soviet Union defeated the Philippines in their first game and won the gold medal, followed by the United States winning the Silver medal and Cuba the bronze medal in the Olympic Basketball tournament in Munich, Germany.
The Philippine Men’s Basketball Team was the only Asian Basketball Team getting the fifth-place classification in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The Philippine Team started their campaign with a victory over Estonia, but in the second game, they were defeated by the United States, the Gold Medalist of the competition. The national team won four games and only lost once to the United States. The Philippines defeated Mexico, Italy, and Uruguay.
Veteran politician and former Ambrosio Padilla headed the 1936 Philippine basketball team alongside Charles Borck, Antonio Carillo, Jacinto Ciria Cruz, Franco Marquicias, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan, Amador Obordo, Bibiano Ouano, Miguel Pardo, John Worrell, and Fortunato Yambao with Head Coach Dionisio Calvo.
How Can Gilas Qualify for the Paris Olympics:
Gilas Pilipinas could qualify for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, France if they can outrank all the Asian teams in the FIBA World Cup 2023 and become the best Asian Team in the tournament.
Based upon the qualification principles of the International Olympic Committee and FIBA, the best Asian Team in the World Cup 2023 will make it to the Paris Olympics.
There is a good chance for the Philipines because in the Olympics qualifiers, Australia and New Zealand, whmpeting in the Asian zone during FIBA Tournaments, are classified in the Oceania Region for the Olympics tournament and not in Asia.
Aside from the Asian qualifier for the Olympics, through the World Cup, two teams will be selected from America, two from Europe, and one from Africa. France has one seat for the Olympics basketball as the host country.
The remaining four slots to complete the 12 participating teams will come from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament in 2024.
Chance of the Philippines to be the Best Asian Team:
The Philippines need at least two wins in Group A, which is already a difficult task facing Italy and the Dominican Republic, and Angola. Once Gilas could hurdle these opponents and advance to the next round, they could have an outright ticket to the Olympics.
Aside from the Philippines, five other Asian teams are vying for the lone Olympic slot, Asian dominant teams like China, Japan, Iran, and Lebanon. Same with the Gilas Team, they will also have a difficult task to accomplish.
Iran is considered the best Asian Team in FIBA, with their No. 22 world rankings, but they are in Group G along with world No. 1 and defending champion Spain and prominent opponents like Brazil and Ivory Coast.
No. 27th ranked China is bracketed with the European top team and world No. 6 Serbia and also with Puerto Rico and South Sudan in Group B. Jordan, on their part, has the toughest road among the Asian squads as they are in Group C with the United States and Greece and New Zealand.
Japan will go up against Olympic Bronze Medalists Australia, Germany, and Finland in Group E, while Lebanon will battle France, Canada, and Latvia in Group H. All the Asian Teams, with the exception of Lebanon, have current NBA players on their extended roster.
Just in case the Philippines will make it to the second round of the World Cup, they will then face all the top teams because the top two teams from each of the eight groups will be playing against two more squads to contest the eight seats in the final round where knockout matches beginning with the quarterfinals will be held.
If no Asian Team advances to the tournament’s second round, the Olympic berth for Asia will come down to the classification phase of the World Cup for the 17th to 32nd places. A win for Gilas Pilipinas in the classification phase could be enough for a spot in Paris Olympics in 2024.
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