LAST Aug. 25 to Sept. 10, basketball fans reunited for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The host countries: Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia set the scene for an unforgettable event where 32 national teams battled it out for basketball supremacy. Each team had a remarkable journey such as the Philippines’ Gilas Pilipinas,  as they competed in the fierce battle.

Gilas Starts the World Cup Campaign with the Dominicans

Gilas Pilipinas began its FIBA World Cup pursuit last Aug. 25 by taking on the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena. The Dominican Republic defeated Gilas Pilipinas with the result of 81-87, taking advantage of Jordan Clarkson's ejection to score 21-17 in the third quarter and secure the victory.

With a 60-57 lead over the Dominicans in the third quarter, Gilas kept up their outstanding play. The Dominicans then managed to separate themselves from Gilas' defense to advance by 66-64 heading into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was also when Gilas started to struggle as they fell behind 81-76 without Clarkson; it was left to June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu to keep the team in the game. Gilas was unable to prevail as the Dominicans continued to attack the basket, draw fouls, and score in the process.

Gilas' Exit Becomes Imminent

Last Aug. 27, Gilas Pilipinas' chances of making it to the second round of the competition suffered a major setback after their 80-70 loss to Angola. The team made their greatest comeback efforts during the game's final quarter, closing the gap to 68-73 with one minute, and 12 seconds left. Then, Gilas made multiple errors against Angola's defense, handing Angola a 76-68 lead from which the team was unable to recover.

Hosts Eliminated

Despite the team doing well by three points during the opening quarter against Italy, Gilas Pilipinas' fate was essentially sealed when Italy defeated them with a score of 28-16 in the second quarter. The Gilas made a valiant effort in the final quarter, which they won 23-17, to cut the score margin, but it was not enough to secure a victory as Italy kept finding ways to punish the hosts.

Due to the loss, the Philippines made tournament history by becoming the first host nation since Colombia in 1982 to suffer a tournament opening-round defeat.

Losses Turned to Triumph

The Philippines' basketball team suffered another loss, this time to South Sudan, resulting in their continued winless streak last Aug. 31. The defeat occurred during the classification round, pushing the Philippines further away from contention for the Asian spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

However, the team managed to redeem themselves in a subsequent match against China, securing a significant victory with a final score of 96-75 last Sept. 2. After falling behind in the first quarter, the Philippines' players Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto helped tie the game. In the third quarter, the team dominated with an impressive display of shooting, leaving China trailing behind. Clarkson's remarkable performance, including four consecutive three-pointers, contributed to the Philippines' substantial lead of 70-50.

What Lies Ahead for Gilas

After Gilas Pilipinas' emotional victory over China in the FIBA World Cup, coach Chot Reyes informed the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) that he intended the game against China to be his last. Reyes continued by saying he is unsure of his position's future with the national team, which will compete in the upcoming Asian Games and Olympic Qualifiers.

With a 1-4 record at the end of the FIBA World Cup 2023, the Philippines placed 24th out of the 32 competing teams. The group's victory over China earned them a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. All things considered, Tim Cone will serve as the men's 5x5 basketball head coach for the 16-team competition at the 19th Asian Games, which will take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. to Oct. 2023.