Gilas Pilipinas pummeled World No. 6 Latvia, 89-80, in an epic match at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga City, Latvia, on July 4.
The Blue squad Gilas took a commanding 32-16 lead in the first quarter and maintained a 21-point advantage through the first half.
Justin “Noypi” Brownlee delivered an outstanding performance with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, achieving a 33-efficiency rating, and was named TCL’s Player of the Game.
The Philippine Gilas team made history with its first victory against a European team in 64 years. The last time it happened was during the 1960 Olympic Games against Spain.
“Our country is incredibly passionate about basketball, as everyone knows. Achieving success on the world stage means a lot to us. This is a significant step forward,” stated Gilas head coach Tim Cone after the game.
Despite their narrow 96-94 loss to Georgia last night, Gilas secured a spot in the tournament’s semifinals, where they will face the formidable Brazil.
