That is AI generated summarization, which can have errors. For context, at all times discuss with the complete article.
Bunched with two prime 25 groups on the planet, the concept of going this far within the Olympic qualifiers appeared so distant that Gilas Pilipinas had been ready to return dwelling proper after the group stage
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone is often inconsolable after a loss.
However maybe for the primary time in his profession, Cone gladly settled for a defeat as Gilas Pilipinas earned its place within the last 4 of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event in Riga, Latvia, even after bowing to Georgia, 96-94.
Regardless of the loss that dropped the crew to 1-1, the Philippines completed second in Group A by way of a quotient tiebreaker and superior to the crossover semifinals to face the highest seed from Group B, which incorporates Brazil, Montenegro, and Cameroon.
“It’s the primary time I’ve felt good about shedding,” mentioned Cone in the course of the post-game press convention on Thursday, July 4.
Cone and his teaching workers opted for the defeat even with the Filipinos having a shot at extra time as they trailed 93-96 with 14 seconds remaining.
The Philippines wanted to win towards Georgia to achieve the knockout stage as the highest seed. However the Nationals may nonetheless advance because the second-ranked crew with a loss, so long as they lose by not more than 18 factors.
Cone went the safer route within the endgame, taking the defeat as an alternative of going for an additional interval that would have given Georgia an opportunity to construct their goal profitable margin.
With the outcome, Gilas Pilipinas moved inside simply two victories of a coveted berth within the Paris Video games.
However the concept of going this far, particularly after being bunched with two prime 25 groups in world No. 6 Latvia and No. 23 Georgia, appeared so distant that the Filipinos had been ready to instantly return dwelling after the group stage.
“We already purchased all of the tickets to depart tomorrow. So I suppose we now have to maneuver them again a bit bit, that’s how stunned we’re to be right here and speaking to you guys,” mentioned Cone after the Philippines beat nice odds, pulling off a colossal 89-80 upset of Latvia then climbing out of a 20-point gap towards Georgia to remain within the hunt.
Because the crew inches nearer to its objective, Cone doesn’t need his gamers to get caught up within the hoopla of ending the Philippines’ five-decade absence in Olympic basketball since its final look within the 1972 Munich Video games.
“We wish to stick with what’s proper in entrance of us. We don’t wish to look within the endgame and suppose, ‘Wow, what occurs if we are able to make it to Paris?’ Clearly, the nation would go bonkers,” mentioned Cone. “They might go completely loopy.”
“However that’s a protracted methods away. We obtained this step finished and we obtained one other step to take. I believe that’s the place the main target is, and hopefully, that’s the place the main target is of our guys.”
For now, Gilas Pilipinas takes a much-needed break because it waits for its subsequent foe. – Rappler.com
