Gilas Pilipinas Moves Up Two Spots in FIBA Men’s World Rankings
By MARK REY MONTEJO
Gilas Pilipinas, the national basketball team of the Philippines, has seen a significant improvement in the latest FIBA Men’s world rankings. The team climbed two places to secure the 24th spot after its participation in the recently concluded 2023 Basketball World Cup.
In the updated rankings, Gilas Pilipinas now sits at number 38, moving up from its previous position at number 40. Despite this improvement, the team remains behind some of its Asian rivals, including Japan at number 26, Iran at number 27, Lebanon at number 28, China at number 29, and Jordan at number 32.
During their run in the World Cup, the Filipino basketball players finished with a record of one win and four losses. Their sole victory came against China, with a score of 96-75. This win secured them a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Paris Games.
Gilas Pilipinas is now preparing for their next challenge, as they gear up to participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which is set to commence later this month.
Meanwhile, despite not making it to the podium for the second consecutive World Cup edition, the USA has reclaimed the top spot in the rankings. The 2019 World Cup champion, Spain, follows closely behind at number 2, while Germany holds the third spot. Australia, Serbia, Canada, and Argentina complete the top 7 positions.
A notable leap in the rankings was made by Latvia, jumping an impressive 22 places to secure the 8th position. France sits at number 9, and Lithuania rounds off the top 10.
(Image source: FIBA)
