Gilas Pilipinas secured a historic triumph at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, defeating host country Latvia, 89-80.
The upset against Latvia was the Philippines’ first win against a European squad in an official FIBA game since 1960, underscoring a remarkable achievement for Philippine basketball.
Gilas asserted their dominance early in the game, storming to an early 8-0 lead. Anchored by the towering duo of Junmar Fajardo and Kai Sotto, they surprised Latvia, ranked 6th in the world and led by Dairis Bertans, a former player with NBA team New Orleans Pelicans. Despite being ranked 37th in the world, Gilas demonstrated unwavering resolve throughout the match.
The first quarter concluded dramatically with CJ Perez sinking a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, extending Gilas’ lead to 32-16. The absence of Scottie Thompson due to injury left Chris Newsome to manage the load of the point guard chores, guiding Gilas with a tight 11-man roster in the highly competitive Olympic qualifier.
Latvia attempted a comeback in the second quarter, narrowing the deficit to 39-29 with a 13-7 run. But a steal by Dwight Ramos followed by a breakaway dunk from Justin Brownlee, the team’s naturalized player, halted Latvia’s momentum. Unsportsmanlike foul called on Bertans and a technical foul on Rodions Kurucs further boosted Gilas’ advantage, closing the first half with a commanding 54-38 lead.
After halftime, Gilas stepped on the gas, increasing its lead to 26 points at one stage.
Despite Latvia’s efforts to tighten their defense, Gilas maintained control and ended the third quarter decisively ahead at 77-56. Throughout the game, Gilas’ defense effectively controlled Latvia’s potent offense. In the final quarter, despite Latvia’s spirited scoring spree of 24 points, Gilas’ robust defense, dominance on the boards (out rebounding Latvia 43-34), and Justin Brownlee’s exceptional performance sealed the victory. Brownlee’s all-around brilliance included 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, highlighted by a crucial 4-point play in the closing moments.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone expressed his surprise and satisfaction at the post-game press conference, highlighting that the initial goal was to compete fiercely against Latvia. “We just wanted to put on a good show,” Cone said.
“But we got momentum (early) and we just never really lost it. There were a couple of stretches where we kinda lost our way a little bit but it just seemed that when Latvia was about to make a huge run at us, they would miss a three-point shot,” he added.
He credited the players’ determination and resilience, noting how close losses in tune-up games against Turkey and Poland sharpened their focus and preparation for the crucial matchup against Latvia.
After the huge win, Gilas now turns its attention to their next opponent, Georgia, ranked 23rd in the world. The victory not only revitalizes Philippine basketball but also positions Gilas on the path to potentially qualify for the Olympics, a milestone not achieved since the 1972 Games in Munich.
