The Philippines rises up a spot in FIBA men’s basketball rankings, released shortly after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Gilas Pilipinas lost its two games in the recent FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) held in Manila. Gilas, led by Andray Blatche, gave France a good fight in the opening of OQT, before losing to New Zealand in their second game.
Despite failing to finally return to the Rio Olympics, Gilas Pilipinas played well enough to earn the right to rise in FIBA World Ranking. The Philippines is now on #27 in the world, ranking ahead of countries Jordan (#28), Germany (#29), Korea (#30) and Senegal (#31).
But Gilas is behind Uruguay (26), Asian powerhouse Iran (25), and Canada (24).
China remains the top-ranked Asian country at #14, but Iran crashed eight spots down to #25.
The United States remains on top of the list with their third straight gold medal win. Rio Olympics third placers Spain is #2, followed by Serbia, which climbed three spots, and France, which improved a notch. Rounding out the top five is Lithuania, which is down by two.
The FIBA World Ranking is “calculated within the scope of a 2 Olympic Games cycle (including qualifying competitions at FIBA Zone level).”
Earlier this August, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the country’s National Sports Association for basketball, elected its new board of trustees and officers. Known sportsman and business mogul Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) and twelve other officials that served the federation for ten years officially retired. The newly-elected board of trustees is led by Meralco executive Al Panlilio as President, Senator Sonny Angara as Chairman, Congressman Robbie Puno as Vice Chairman, and Ateneo official Ricky Palou as Treasurer. Sonny Barrios was retained as Executive Director.
