Gilas Pilipinas vs. Latvia (July 4) // 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament
The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, embarks on its journey towards an Olympic berth as they face world no. 6 Latvia in the 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).
How To Watch: Gilas Pilipinas vs. Latvia Game Info
Find out the game time information, when and how to watch Philippines’ game against the Latvia on TV and streaming online.
- Date: Thursday, July 4, 2023
- Time: 12:00 am (PHL Time)
- Venue: Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia
- Game Stats: fiba.basketball
- TV: One Sports / One Sports+
- Live Stream: Pilipinas Live (Android / iOS) / Courtside 1891
Result and Scores: Gilas Pilipinas vs. Latvia
| Team | Final Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | 89 | 32 | 22 | 23 | 12 | |
| Latvia | 80 | 16 | 22 | 18 | 24 |
In a stunning upset, world number 37 Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a major victory against host Latvia, ranked sixth in the world, with a final score of 89-80, to open their 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign on Thursday, July 4th.
The Philippines entered the game as underdogs, but they came out with fire and determination. Led by Justin Brownlee’s impressive near triple-double of 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, Gilas Pilipinas controlled the pace of the game for most of the night.
Game Highlights: Gilas Pilipinas vs. Latvia
Watch the game highlights between Philippines and Latvia in the preliminary round of the 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Game Preview: Gilas Pilipinas vs. Latvia
Gilas Pilipinas is gearing up for a crucial showdown against world No. 6 Latvia as they kick off their 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) campaign on Thursday, July 6, at 12 midnight (Philippine time) at the Arena Riga in Latvia.
This marks the beginning of an ambitious quest for an Olympic berth for the national squad.
Gilas has been diligently preparing for this OQT, utilizing two pre-tournament friendlies against formidable opponents. Although they fell short against both Turkey (84-73) and Poland (82-80), these games provided valuable experience and highlighted areas for improvement.
While Latvia enters the OQT as the clear favorite, they will be without a few key players. Kristaps Porzingis, fresh off an NBA championship win with the Boston Celtics, is recovering from postseason surgery and won’t be suiting up. Additionally, their World Cup top scorer, Andreis Grazulis, is also absent from the official roster.
However, Latvia still boasts a strong core, led by veteran power forwards Davis Bertans and Rolands Smits. Bertans is a potent threat from beyond the arc, averaging 12.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in the last World Cup. Smits provides a dominant presence inside, contributing 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game during the same tournament. These experienced players pose a considerable challenge for Gilas’ frontcourt, anchored by the ever-reliable June Mar Fajardo and the promising young talent of Kai Sotto.
Gilas Pilipinas counters with a well-rounded roster featuring a mix of seasoned veterans and exciting young prospects. Justin Brownlee, a naturalized player, will be instrumental in leading the offense alongside Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, and Calvin Oftana. Veterans Japeth Aguilar and CJ Perez provide additional firepower, while rookies Mason Amos, Kevin Quiambao, and Carl Tamayo offer a glimpse into the future of Philippine basketball.
Latvia enters the OQT as the team to beat, having already secured an 83-55 victory over Georgia in their opening match. In that game, Davis Bertans set the tone from the perimeter, finishing with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Mareks Mejeris and Rolands Smits asserted themselves in the paint, combining for 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Following their matchup against Latvia, Gilas will face Georgia in their second Group A assignment. Securing at least one victory in the group stage is crucial for the Philippines, as it could potentially secure them a spot in the next round, where they would face teams like Brazil, Cameroon, or Montenegro.
