Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic qualifiers – The Philippines 94–96 Georgia: While Georgia clinched a victory, the Philippines secured a crucial spot in the next round for Olympics. The historic win against Latvia and a closely contested game against Georgia ensured their second-place finish in the group.
Securing a victory against Latvia and maintaining a narrow margin against Georgia, especially on foreign soil, is no small feat. Gilas Pilipinas demonstrated their resilience and skill, keeping their Olympic dreams alive.
Who’s the next opponent of Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic qualifiers?
The next challenger for the Philippines is still to be determined. Montenegro, Brazil, and Cameroon are all in contention for the top spot in the second group of Olympic qualifiers.
The Philippines’ next opponent in the last four will be the first-placed team from Group B.
| Rank | Country | Games Played | Wins | Losses | Points For | Points Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Montenegro | 2 | 1 | 1 | 142 | 147 | 3 |
| 2. | Brazil | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 72 | 2 |
| 3. | Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 70 | 1 |
Regardless of the opponent in the semifinals, Tim Cone’s team has shown they can compete fiercely, even against the favorites. Remarkably, they achieved this without their star player, Jordan Clarkson.
Final Score: Philippines 94-96 Georgia
Aleksandar Dzikic’s Georgia team needed a 19-point victory to advance. After a strong start, leading by as many as 20 points, it seemed they had the game in hand. However, the Philippines displayed remarkable heart and passion, narrowing the gap and ensuring their advancement despite a close 96-94 loss.
Georgia approached the game with aggression, focus, and determination. An early 16-0 run set the tone, exciting basketball fans back in Tbilisi. Joe Thomasson’s three-pointer midway through the second quarter extended the lead to 40-20, putting everything at stake.
At that moment, Tim Cone’s Gilas team faced a critical juncture: respond or say goodbye to their Olympic dreams. A 12-0 run followed, and by the third quarter, Gilas took their first lead at 71-70.
Gilas Pilipinas Player of the Game – Brownlee was brilliant
Justin “The Michael Jordan of Philippine basketball” Brownlee delivered a stellar performance, nearly achieving a triple-double with a 26-9-9 stat line in the previous game against Latvia. In this match, he again led the team’s comeback, earning the TCL Player of the Game title for the second consecutive day with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting 10/14 from the field.
Three-pointers were crucial for the Philippines’ advance. Dwight Ramos and Justin Brownlee combined for 8 of 15 beyond the arc, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Overall, the Philippines shot an impressive 13 of 23 from three-point range against Georgia, following up their 9 of 20 performance against Latvia.
Despite Georgia’s fearless start and early dominance, Coach Cone’s team showed resilience and determination, ultimately preventing Georgia from extending their stay in Latvia. Georgia ended the group stage with a 1-1 record, but it wasn’t enough to advance, leaving even their star players—Tornike Shengelia (17 points, 7 rebounds), Goga Bitadze (21 points, 9 rebounds), and Sandro Mamukelashvili (26 points, 7 rebounds)—unable to secure their spot.
The Philippines’ tenacity and skill have kept their Olympic dreams alive as they move on to the Semi-Finals.
