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FIBA World Cup: Gilas Pilipinas beat China in our first ever basketball game
Updated: Jun 16
Our UNFORGETABLE highlights from a brilliant match between Philippines and China, including our best-viewed YouTube video EVER! We couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend and highlight one of the host countries of the FIBA World Cup (World Basketball Cup) right here in Quezon City in Metro Manila! A once in a life time experience!
We cheered on the GILAS PILIPINAS as they played at home in Quezon City, Metro Manila. We must have been a good luck charm for them as this was their first win in almost A DECADE! With an epic win over China and an EXPLOSIVE 3rd quarter in which superstar JORDAN CLARKSON hit 5 STRAIGHT three-pointers it was definitely the game of the decade to be at for Gilas Pilipinas fans!
Going to the SMART Araneta Coliseum was our first visit to Quezon City. We couldn't be happier or prouder to have been there to support Gilas, and give back some of the love and support that the Filipino people have shown us during our month long stay here in Manila.
Read on for our highlights of this fantastic game, a Q & A for those of you who want to know more about Gilas Pilipinas, our epic YouTube video, and as an added bonus, your comprehensive GUIDE to visiting the Philippines!
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Our match highlights
When we arrived in Manila at the beginning of August, admittedly we were totally unaware that the Philippines were co-hosting the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Japan and Indonesia, the first time they had been a host nation in a whopping 45 years. So when we did find out, we simply could not pass up on the opportunity to head to a game.
It just so happened that this match was due to take place just a few days after we heard about the tournament, and ironically just two days before we were due to leave Manila! The timing could not have been better, and thankfully we secured two tickets on a night that turned out to be a near sell-out event.
We were super excited to get to the game, which was playing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This is a stadium that holds a special place in the heart of Quezon City, hosting sports and concerts alike since its completion in 1960. Indeed it hosted the last FIBA World Cup to be held in the Philippines way back in 1978.
Thanks to several renovations this 16500 capacity stadium is almost as good as new. The concourse areas are modern, bright and spacious, with a litany of stores and food available in and around the stadium.
It just so happened that the heavens literally opened over Manila on the night of the game. The rain was fierce and heavy, and we were very thankful that our taxi was able to drop us off undercover outside the doors at the Red Gate of the stadium. Amazingly, despite the late start of 8pm, the crazy rain, and the fact that there was little riding on this game, over eleven thousand fans packed out the stadium and were the source of a raucous and brilliant atmosphere.
Having already lost all four matches prior, Gilas Pilipinas were already out of the running for a first-ever FIBA World Cup. Indeed the statistics did not look good from any angle, with 9 straight World Cup losses to their name. This on top of the unwanted record of 8 straight defeats in the last World Cup they hosted, albeit over 40 years ago.
Before heading inside we stopped by the merch centre to grab a shirt as we really wanted to show our support for Gilas Pilipinas. We were so glad to have been able to get them, as prior to the match we had looked for some in a couple of malls but to no avail. Literally as we entered the main arena, all decked out in brilliant white, the national anthems started.
With the odds stacked so highly against the Philippines, you would never have been able to tell on the night. The support was absolutely sensational and the fans in the stadium, including us, were living and breathing every bounce of the ball. We had no idea of those aforementioned records prior to the game, and we knew that they were unable to qualify for the next round, but regardless we sensed importance here. We sensed pride. We sensed glory!
The passion and pride around the arena was immense and the hairs were standing up on the back of our necks! Honestly, this atmosphere was amazing, We have been amongst 60,000 fans at the Emirates Stadium (we are Arsenal fans), and this is an unlikely rival! From the thundering chants of 'defence, defence' to 'Gilas, Gilas', it was breathtaking. Not to mention the drummers, the Mexican waves, the half time dance shows and free shirts being pot-shotted into the crowd at every opportunity.
While we could go on and on about the crowd, lets talk about the game! After a tense first and second quarter, the match was almost tied. Every time Gilas went on the attack and scored a point (or three), China would score back. In the first half of the game the defence was seriously lacking for the home side, despite the unwavering support in the stands.
So after a very good half-time show, the players came back out onto the court, and little did any of us know what was about to happen. With the scores so close, perhaps it was maybe expected that given their record, the Gilas Pilipinas were about to break down. Nine losses is a pretty consistent pattern. But not this time. Not tonight. Cometh the man, cometh the moment. It was time for Mr Jordan Clarkson.
We had already been made aware that Clarkson was the no 1 player in the team, but up until the 3rd quarter he had been relatively quiet, bar some pretty consistent free throws. But despite that, there was an air of significance about this match for him, given that in his debut for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games, he tasted defeat against this very same China team.
And boy did he come out with a point to prove after the break. The Utah Jazz ace sparked delirium in the coliseum in a spectacular four-minute third-quarter blitz, hitting no less than FIVE three-pointers in a phenomenal display that almost single-handily took China out of the game.
Clarkson's eruption ended with 24 points, eruption being the right word considering he hit just ten points across the other three quarters. It was undeniably the main drive that led the Philippines to its first World Cup win since 2014 when they beat Senegal, and left the world in no doubt of his exceptional talent. While Clarkson may grab the headlines however, it must be said that the team defense improved considerably in the second half of the game, snuffing out almost every Chinese attack.
So, a first win for the Philippines in the tournament, finishing 1-4, going out on a high, and ending all of those unwanted records. Alongside the aforementioned woes, this win also meant that Gilas Pilipinas avoided the ignominy of becoming the first host in 41 years to go winless.
As far as sports go, basketball is right up there with the best of them for pure entertainment. Especially when it comes to support; not just in the stadium, but online on YouTube, where the comments on our highlight video show so much passion and pride for this team. Regardless of records and results, the Gilas Pilipinas are legends and icons in their own right, carrying the pride of the Philippines in every match. Apart from perhaps the outgoing coach, who was booed before the match even started!
As we left the stadium with our popcorn filled bellies and hoarse voices, we could not help but beam with smiles and happiness at what was our finest night in Manila, and one of our favorite date nights ever. This match, this team, and this country have left an imprint on our hearts, and they certainly have new fans here. Onwards and upwards... cheers to the next victory! Go Gilas Pilipinas!!!!
⪢ Match Stats:
⪢ Quarters: (P vs C)
16-16
39-40
73-51
96-75
⪢ Philippines: 96
Clarkson 34, Abando 14, Sotto 12, Ramos 11, Fajardo 9, Pogoy 7, Edu 5, Thompson 4, Ravena 0, Aguilar 0.
⪢ China: 75
Li 17, Zhang 13, M. Hu 12, R. Zhao 12, J. Hu 10, Zhu 5, Cui 2, Fu 2, Zhou 2, J. Zhao 0.
Q&A and facts about Gilas Pilipinas
Given we are both newbies to Philippines basketball, we were compelled to do some research before attending this game, so we could truly get into the spirit of things. Plus this is what travel is all about! Learning new things, supporting local (and national) communities and immersing ourselves in culture. So for those of you who may also not know much about Gilas Pilipinas, here are a few facts to get you started!
⪢ What does Gilas Pilipinas mean?
The name "Gilas Pilipinas" is a Filipino word that loosely translates to "prowess" or "might". It was adopted from the mascot of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games held in Manila, which is an eagle.
⪢ The rallying call
The team's battle cry is "Puso", which means "heart" or "courage" in Filipino. It became the mantra of the team when it ended a long 36-year FIBA World Cup appearance drought by qualifying to the 2014 edition in Spain.
⪢ What is the Philippines' FIBA World Cup record?
The Philippines has competed in the FIBA World Cup five times, with their best finish being a bronze medal in 1954. The Philippines has also won 18 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, more than any other country.
⪢ Who are some famous players from the past and present?
Some of the most famous players to have played for Gilas Pilipinas include Carlos Loyzaga, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, and Japeth Aguilar.
Currently Jordan Clarkson, a 6'5" guard who plays for the Utah Jazz in the NBA, is the best player on the team and has consistently been the highest performer. Kai Sotto is a 7'3" center who plays for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia. He is the tallest player on the team and is expected to provide rim protection and scoring inside. Dwight Ramos is a 6'6" guard who plays for Levanga Hokkaido in Japan and is a versatile player who can score, rebound, and pass.
⪢ Who is the head coach?
The team was coached by Chot Reyes, who has also served as head coach of the Philippine national team in the Olympics. He resigned after this game, and Tim Cone has been appointed as the new head coach on an interim basis for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
⪢ Where do they play?
The team's home arena is the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.
⪢ What are the team colors?
The team's jersey colors are red, white, and blue.
⪢ Do they have a mascot?
The team's mascot is a dragon named "Gilas".
⪢ What is the name of the official song?
The team's official song is "Puso-ng Pilipinas".
⪢ How popular are they?
Gilas Pilipinas is one of the most popular national basketball teams in southern Asia, with basketball also being the no 1 sport in the Philippines. The team is renowned for its large and passionate fan base, and its games are always well-attended. The team is always looking to improve and compete at the highest level, and hopefully they can reward such support with a championship one day!
Our Philippines vs China FIBA 2023 YouTube video
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Your FREE interactive map of the Philippines
Check out all of the places we visited in the Philippines courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.
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