FIBA World Cup 2023: How Did Gilas Pilipinas Lose To Dominican Republic?

Screengrab Courtesy of One Sports (via YouTube)

The Philippines suited up against the Dominican Republic in their first matchup for the FIBA World Cup 2023 group stage. 

Led by Jordan Clarkson, the Philippines’ National Team or the so-called Gilas Pilipinas managed to go up against Dominicana featuring NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. 

The international battle was pretty close as Gilas kept pushing throughout the game. Unfortunately, the Dominican Republic would come out with the win, 87-81.

FIBA World Cup 2023: Is Kai The Odd Man Out? [Opinion]

by Cristian Andal

Gilas' Kai Sotto at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Photo: fiba.basketball

Kai Sotto is the Philippines' best prospect right now to become the first full-blooded Filipino to play in the NBA. However, things are getting bleaker and bleaker for the 21-year-old center after getting benched in Gilas Pilipinas' 87-81 loss to the Dominican Republic during their first game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The 7-foot-3 center played just 73 seconds - yes, you read that right, a minute and 13 seconds - in the defeat. Disappointingly, he had a block and two personal fouls under his name on the box score.

FIBA World Cup 2023: Gilas Faces Must-Win Situation Against Angola

from PBA.ph

Gilas Pilipinas' Jordan Clarkson at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Photo: fiba.basketball

Gilas Pilipinas is eyeing a quick turnaround in its FIBA World Cup campaign as focus now shifts on the task of winning over Angola on Sunday to stay alive of advancing into the next round of the group phase.

The game is set at 8 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in a virtual do-or-die match for both the Filipinos and Angolans, who lost their respective opening game in Group A of the tournament on Friday.

FIBA Opener: Gilas Pilipinas' Brave Stand Falls Short, Succumbs to Dominican Republic, 87-81

by Raymund Tamayo

Photo credit: FIBA | fiba.basketball

It is August and National Heroes Month in the Philippines. That's why it is no surprise, even though they fell short, how Gilas Pilipinas made a brave stand against one of the NBA's best big men Karl-Anthony Towns, and his Dominican Republic squad.

Towns paced the 23rd world-ranked basketball team to a close 87-81 win over fellow NBA-veteran and Utah Jazz shooting guard Jordan Clarkson and his 40th world-ranked Team Philippines during the 2023 FIBA World Cup opening day at the Philippine Arena on August 25. 

Finally! Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto Join Gilas Practice Ahead Of FIBA World Cup

by Cristian Andal

Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto during Gilas Pilipinas’ game against Saudi Arabia in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Fiba

Finally! The big shot duo of Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto joined the Gilas Pilipinas closed-door practice on Wednesday, August 9 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

The Gilas standouts were seen training with the rest of the squad, taking shots and running down the court, in an Instagram story posted by head coach Chot Reyes.

The 31-year-old Clarkson, an 11-year NBA veteran, arrived from the U. S. last Tuesday. He was not able to join the national team for the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China because of visa matters.

Meanwhile, Sotto stayed in the country and did not join the China tourney as he had to recover from back issues bothering him since his NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic last month.