After a disappointing performance in the 2019 FIBA World Cup members from the Philippines National team, Gilas Pilipinas, return home Tuesday with more experience and a positive outlook regarding their basketball future.
The Pilipinas failed to garnish a win in the 2019 FIBA World Cup but considering that they did not have their two best players, and had to prepare on short notice, the team was not surprised they were knocked out early.
The Pilipinas opened the tournament with two blowouts, losing by a total of 105 points to Italy and Serbia. From there it didn’t get any better losing to lower-ranked Angola in overtime 84-81. They then lost a pair of games in the consolation round.
The Pilipinas lost a total of five games. Team captain Gabe Norwood told the ESPN5 that they gave it their best and while it might not look like it, they were trying to get it right and learning on the fly. Norwood went on to apologize for letting their fans down, and to reassure them that the team has confidence and excitement for the future.
The Philippines are currently in the running with Japan and Indonesia to host the 2023 World Cup. The Philippines have only placed once in the FIBA World Cup. In 1954 the Philippines finished third in the tournament.
Basketball has been played in the Philippines since the late 1890s, and it is not a surprise that Filipinos have dominated the American sport in Southeast Asia ever since. However, the tide has turned on the Pilipinas this year as other countries dominated the national team.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is the second longest-running basketball league in the world behind the National Basketball Association (NBA). There are currently 12 teams that play in the PBA.
Betting on basketball has become a sport inside of itself and is legal to Filipinos betting from offshore sites or from domestic sportsbooks that offer NBA betting lines. While it is hard to find PBA lines, online sportsbooks do offer NBA lines and a whole bunch of other sports you can bet on from leagues around the world.
