Olympics SBP’s ultimate goal

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hasn’t qualified to play basketball in the Olympics since 1972 and the dream to end the long absence in the 2020 Tokyo Games is what’s motivating the SBP to put up the best national team ever to make it back.

The road to Tokyo is different from previous Olympic qualifying pathways and Gilas head coach Chot Reyes said recently the window of opportunity is wide open. There will be only 12 teams in the Olympic tournament and the list includes host Japan. Seven teams will be directly qualified out of the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China – the top finisher from Asia, Africa and Oceania and the top two finishers from Europe and the Americas. The remaining four slots will be determined by four separate Olympic qualifying tournaments involving a total of 24 entries.

The four Olympic qualifying tournaments will gather the 16 best remaining teams not directly advancing to Tokyo from the World Cup and eight more invited teams, two from each FIBA region. Each FIBA regional office will name two additional teams from Asia/Oceania, Africa, Europe and the Americas to join the four Olympic qualifying tournaments. The eight “wildcards” will not have qualified from the World Cup. The four Olympic qualifying tournaments of six teams each will be bid out for hosting. 

For the 2016 Rio Olympics, nine teams were directly qualified, including host Brazil and 2014 World Cup champion USA. The other direct qualifiers were the champions and runners-up of Europe and the Americas and the champions of Asia, Africa and Oceania. The last three slots were awarded to the three winners of the Olympic qualifying tournaments in Turin, Belgrade and Manila. 

If the new Olympic qualifying format were applied for Rio, Reyes said the Philippines could’ve made it as the best Asian finisher. As it turned out, the Philippines lost to Croatia, 81-78 in overtime and the game against Argentina went down to the last possession. Iran wound up the best Asian finisher at No. 20 while the Philippines was a rung below at No. 21. A win over Croatia or Argentina would’ve made the Philippines the best Asian finisher.

While Australia and New Zealand are in the Asia/Pacific region for the World Cup qualifiers, they’re considered from a separate zone in the Olympics. Reyes said if the Philippines winds up the best Asian finisher in the 2019 World Cup assuming it qualifies for the China tournament, then the ticket to the Olympics is sealed. Reyes said if the 2014 World Cup results are an indication, the Philippines has a shot at making it.

The easiest way to the Olympics is through the World Cup because contending for the four slots available in the Olympic qualifying tournaments is a major hurdle, considering the competition from different regions. Last year, the Philippines failed to advance to the second round of the Rio Olympic qualifying tournament where France, Canada, New Zealand, Turkey and Senegal also participated.

The first order of the day for Gilas is to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. That means the Philippines must be among the top seven teams coming out of the home-and-away Asia/Pacific qualifiers. There will be 16 teams vying for the seven slots. The Philippines has to finish in the top three of its first round group of four to advance to the second round. In the Philippines’ first round Group B are Australia, Chinese-Taipei and Japan. If the Philippines makes it to the second round, Gilas will play a home-and-away series with the top three placers of Group D made up of Iran, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Iraq.

Once the Philippines qualifies for the World Cup, then Gilas’ next challenge is to end up as Asia’s best finisher to guarantee a ticket to the Olympics. The last Philippine team to the Olympics posted a 2-6 record in Munich in 1972. The squad included Freddie Webb, Yoyong Martirez, Bogs Adornado, Marte Samson, Manny Paner and Joy Cleofas. A consolation was the Philippines beat Japan, 82-73, in the country’s final Olympic basketball appearance.