Gilas exits with a bang

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas set a ton of records in FIBA World Cup history after defeating China, 96-75, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday to end with a 1-4 slate and place No. 24 of 32. The finish was a marked improvement from No. 32 in the previous FIBA World Cup as the Philippines wound up third highest among six Asian countries with China at No. 29, Iran at No. 31 and Jordan at No. 32.

The Philippines has won only twice in its last 21 FIBA World Cup outings dating back to 1978 and coach Chot Reyes is credited with both victories, the first an 81-79 OT win over Senegal in 2014. Gilas’ losing margin of 10.5 points in four games this year was the second lowest in the Philippines’ seven FIBA World Cup appearances. The lowest-ever was 5.75 points in 2014, also with Reyes at the helm. The largest losing margin was 31.4 points in Manila in 1978.

Jordan Clarkson’ 34-point explosion against China was the Philippines’ highest single-game output ever. Only two others from the Philippines scored at least 30 in the FIBA World Cup. FIBA Hall of Famer Carlos Loyzaga tallied 31 in the Philippines’ 67-63 win over Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro in 1954. Ramon Cruz shot 33 in the Philippines’ 98-88 loss to Canada and 31 in the 117-101 defeat to Yugoslavia, both in 1978.

In FIBA World Cup history, only 12 players scored at least 20 points in a game for the Philippines. Clarkson and Andray Blatche did it in five contests, Bogs Adornado in three, Loyzaga, Robert Jaworski, Lauro Mumar and Bonnie Carbonnell in two and Francis Arnaiz, Pons Saldana, Constancio Ortiz, Steve Watson and Joy Carpio in one. Clarkson is the only Filipino player to score at least 20 points in every game of the FIBA World Cup, marking the first time a player accomplished the feat in 69 years.

The 21-point romp over China was the Philippines’ second largest winning margin in FIBA World Cup history, behind only a 90-56 disposal of Israel in 1954. It was the Philippines’ second win over an Asian country in the FIBA World Cup after a 48-38 lacing of Formosa in 1954. The only setback to an Asian country was a 95-75 loss to Iran in 2019. The triumph over China was the Philippines’ fifth in 10 head-to-head encounters including the Asian Games and FIBA Asia Cup since the turn of the millennium and was the worst drubbing. The Philippines’ previous wins were in the FIBA Asia Cup, 79-74 and 78-76 in 2007, 80-79 in 2014 and 96-87 in 2017. China has defeated the Philippines in their last three Asian Games faceoffs, 92-51 in 2002, 78-71 in 2014 and 82-80 in 2018.

The Philippines’ seven-point loss to Italy was the lowest margin in three head-to-head FIBA World Cup battles. Italy crushed the Philippines, 112-75 in 1978 and 108-62 in 2019. Gilas’ performance earned a slot to the Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Japan booked a ticket as the highest Asian finisher with the Philippines and Lebanon gaining invites to the 24-nation Olympic Qualifying Tournament split into four legs of six teams each.