For the first time since 2007, the Philippine men’s basketball team did not advance to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup. Head coach Chot Reyes is under fire again—since the Philippines lost the Southeast Asian Games crown to Indonesia.
Gilas Pilipinas
FIBA Asia Cup: Gilas did not advance to the quarterfinals. The Philippine men’s basketball team ended its campaign in FIBA Asia Cup after suffering a wire-to-wire defeat against Japan, 102-81. Yuki Togashi and Luke Evans led the Japanese squad with 18 and 17 points while Yudai Nishida, Yutaroh Suda, and Yuta Watanabe added a combined 44 points. Ray Parks Jr and Kiefer Ravena top-scored for Gilas with 16 and 15 respectively.
đź“·: Philippine Sports Commission / Philippine Olympic Committee
Chot Reyes: Experience. Gilas head coach Chot Reyes insists that bringing a young team will be more beneficial to the national team’s program by gaining experience.
FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: Jordan Clarkson is expected to play. Gilas head coach Chot Reyes said that he got a word about NBA player Jordan Clarkson joining the Philippine men’s basketball team for the next window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The Utah Jazz guard will be allowed to play as a naturalized player but the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas continues to lobby FIBA to allow him to play as a local.
FIBA Asia Cup: Australia defended the throne. Australia weathered Lebanon’s comeback attempt in the FIBA Asia Cup finals, 75-73. NBA veteran led the Boomers with 14 points and 8 rebounds while the tournament MVP Wael Arakji finished with game-high 28 points on 7-of-11 shooting for the Cedars. Meanwhile, New Zealand finished third after winning over Jordan, 83-75.
Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Cup playoffs—quarterfinals picture
- #1 San Miguel Beer (9-2) vs #8 Blackwater Bossing (5-6) — SMB with a twice-to-beat advantage
- #2 TNT (8-3) vs #7 Converge (5-6) — TNT with a twice-to-beat advantage
- #3 Magnolia Timplados (8-3) vs #6 NLEX (6-5) — Best of three
- #4 Barangay Ginebra (8-3) vs #5 Meralco (7-4) — Best of three
NCAA Season 97 women’s volleyball
Benilde swept the tournament and won the championship trophy. De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde swept the three-time defending champion Arellano Univerisity in the NCAA Season 97 women’s volleyball finals. The three-set victory in Game 2 ended Lady Blazers’ season with an immaculate 11-0 record and their second title.
Season Awardees
- Mycah Go, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
Most Valuable Player - Kat Santos, San Sebastian College-Recoletos
Rookie of the Year - Mycah Go, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
First Best Outside Spiker - Reyann Cañete, San Sebastian College-Recoletos
First Best Opposite Hitter - Zonxi Dahab, Lyceum of the Philippines University
First Best Middle Blocker - Venice Puzon, Lyceum of the Philippines University
Best Setter - Alex Salvaloza, Emilio Aguinaldo College
Best Libero - Dolly Verzosa, Jose Rizal University
Second Best Outside Spiker - Nicole Ong, Mapua University
Second Best Middle Blocker
Miscellaneous
EJ Obiena set personal best and Asian record. Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena won the bronze medal in the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, United States. He also set a new personal best and Asian record after clearing 5.94 meters.
UST tapped Bal David as head coach. Bal David will lead the University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team program as head coach.
More:
- The Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) dragon boat team won its first gold medal in the 13th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Club Crew World Championship in Florida, United States. The Cebu-based paddlers added two golds after winning the Paradragon 1 and Paradragon 2 categories.