Gilas-Pilipinas, look back at 2024 and beyond

The year 2024 was a very fruitful and productive for the national team, Gilas-Pilipinas as it ended the year that was on a high note. Seeing these present group of young and talented lads wowed this basketball nation with an impressive performance that sent shock waives throughout even in the world stage.

Gilas-Pilipinas’ high-level performance (I called it Magical run), started when long-time residing American bench tactician Tim Cone, who spent almost his teenage life in Aurora, Quezon, took over the Nationals’ coaching cudgels from predecessor Chot Reyes late last year, as he was given barely two weeks to assemble and prepare another team to represent the country in Asian Games in, China.

Gilas have dismal showing in the 2023FIBA World Cup, finishing 24th. Manila co-hosted the event with Okinawa and Jakarta. Mall of Asia, is the tournament’s main hub.

Cone’s magic worked wonders, even before he could lay down his four-year program for Gilas-Pilipinas and his formal appointment as head coach. The said team he -up, made history by winning Asian Games gold medal after six and half decades. Gilas defeated Jordan, 70-60, in the finals. And an amazing come-from-behind victory over the mighty and taller Chinese squad, 77-76.

Few weeks later, following Cone’s formal appointment and announcement of the four-year plan for the nationals’. Cone waived his magic one as he assembled a younger, taller, heftier and talented new breed of Gilas-Pilipinas in preparation for the first qualifying window for FIBA Asia Cup last February.

The nationals’ new system (Triangle Offense) were easily adopted and it worked perfectly as they routed Hong Kong, 94-64, and Chinese-Taipei. 106-53, to top the first window. It was first time the fans witnessed the new bunch of Gilas playing together under Cone.

It was Justine Brownlee, who shone the brightest, as he led all scorers in both games, 15 points against the Hongkobites and 26 markers over the Taiwanese. Kai Sotto provided able support producing a pair of double performance. 13 points, 10 rebound over Hong Kong and 18 points, 11 board. While ScottieThompson provided the needed spark along Calvin Oftana, who had 10 makers and 11 rebound.

After topping the Asia Cup first window, couple of months after. Cone and the new Gilas team had to prepare for the Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament barely 10 days before flying to Riga, Latvia last August. Wherein Gilas-Pilipinas made history anew, beating the host, 89-80. The victory was the first against a European since the Filipinos’ 70-65 win over Italy during the 1965 Rome Olympics.

And again, it was the combination of Brownlee and Sotto, done the job, with 19 and 18 points, respectively. The victory likewise sent a chilling effect of sort to other teams, Georgia No. 20 and Brazil (26). Though the National lost to Goga Betazi led Georgian, 94-96. But Georgia failed to beat Gilas by more than six points that eventually gave the National to the semifinals, where they also lost to the Brazilian, 60-71.

Though Gilas failed to gain a seat to the Olympics, their OQT stint still regarded as the best performance since for any national squads in the years.

Three-months later, Gilas resumes its campaign for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup, as it met its tormentor in New Zealand, which tasted a bitter defeat for the first time in over the four years, 93-89. Another milestone for Cone and for Gilas as well. Brownlee and Sotto teamed up for the win with a splendid performance throughout with 26 and 19 points, respectively.

A couple of days after, Gilas-Pilipinas wrapped up 2024 journey, with a historic win over the Kiwis, thus nationals swept the second window qualifier with blowout win over Hongkong, 93-65, to remain unbeaten with 4-0 win loss record and formally punch a ticket to the Asia Cup tournament proper to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in May.

To summarize 2024 for Gilas-Pilipinas. Brownlee remained as the most consistent player, averaging 28 points per game, almost non-stop, playing tournament after tournament, whether PBA, IBL, FIBA OQT and Asia Cup. Sotto was tagged as Mr. Surprise Player, big man in his entire stint with the national team. Statistics also shows, that Gilas garnered an average of 28 Assists per game the three FIBA windows.

Those figure only goes to show that Cone’s four-year development program for Gilas-Pilipinas, are on the right track comprising with speed and accurate ball movement, defense and playing solidly together under one system.

And that’s 2024 for Gilas-Pilipinas. In the coming 2025, I’m wishing more success for the national team and I wish all players will stay healthy in the coming competitions.

Happy New Year to all the staff of Gilas News and to our hardworking Editor-in-chief, Don Danny Simon, more power.