Philippines Men's National Basketball Team

Bio

The Philippines men’s national basketball team, generally known as “Gilas Pilipinas” has achieved remarkable milestones on the global stage. The Philippines men’s national basketball team is mainly governed by the Samahang Basketol ng Pilipinas or simply the Basketball Federation of the Philippines and SBP.

The Philippines became a part of FIBA in 1936 and has been participating in World Cups since. The team won a bronze medal in the FIBA World Cup that was held in 1954. In addition to this, the Philippines finished fifth in the 1936 Summer Olympics which became a great achievement as they became the first team outside the Americas, Oceania and Europe, to have such an excellent finish. Throughout their basketball journey, the Philippines has made 28 FIBA Asia Cup appearances and were the champions five times. The team has also participated seven times in the Olympic games even though they didn’t win any medals on any occasion.

Legends

Robert Jaworski

Robert Jaworski is a former basketball player who played 23 seasons in the Philippines Basketball Association. He is one of the best basketball players of his time. His determination and intelligence have helped many teams in the Philippines reach the top. Apart from his basketball career, Jaworski was also a politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines and head coach of the Ginebra San Miguel. He was a leader and the heart and soul of each group he played for.

Ramon Fernandez

Ramon Sadaya Fernandez was one of the greatest basketball players ever in the Philippines Basketball Association. He currently serves as a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission. During his basketball career, he won four Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player awards. Ramon has also achieved 19 PBA titles and tallied 18,996 points in his basketball career. Ramon primarily played for five teams including Toyota, Manila Beer, Tanduay, San Miguel and Purefoods.

Bogs Adornado

A three-time PBA MVP, William “Bogs” Adornado played basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. Now, he is working as a Filipino professional basketball coach. He won three MVP titles in 1975, 1976 and 1981 and is taken into consideration as one of the finest basketball players in the Philippines. Adornado is well-known for his outside shot and his scoring abilities, which helped him secure a well-respected spot in the world of basketball. He played 12 seasons in the Philippines Basketball Association with an average of 20.4 points per game.

Alvin Patrimonio

Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio is a retired basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association. At present, he is a team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots. Patrimonio was the best power forward of his era and was named the MVP in 4 events. He is the third all-time scorer in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association with 15,091 points. In addition to this, Patrimonio holds the record for most games with 596 games played throughout his basketball career.

Benjie Paras

A Filipino actor and comedian, Venancio Johnson Paras Jr. played basketball for the Philippines in the Philippine Basketball Association. Paras, known as the Tower of Power, carried over his dominance inside the collegiate ranks to the professional level. He is the only player in PBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in a single basketball season in 1989. Throughout his gaming career, Paras earned the spot of the PBA Champion four times.

Head Coach

The Philippines men’s basketball team is under the guidance of Tim Cone, who brings a wealth of coaching experience and expertise to the table. Known for his tactical acumen and robust leadership, Cone has been instrumental in refining the team’s style and instilling a winning mentality.

Tim Cone started his coaching career in 1989 as a coach of Alaska Milk. he was there with the Alaska team for 22 years and led the team to 9 championships. In 2011, Cone joined B-Meg Llamados as a head coach and led the team to win the Commissioner's Cup in 2012. Now Cone serves as a head coach for San Miguel.

For the national team, Tim Cone led the Philippine Centennial team to win the bronze medal in 1998 in the Asian Games. Now after Chot Reyes, Cone joined the team again in 2023 and led the team to win the gold medal in continental competition.

History

With a rich history and dedication to basketball, the Philippines men’s national basketball team is working as a dominating force on the basketball court. Basketball was initially introduced to the Filipino people as a sport that was primarily played by women, in interscholastic events from 1911 to 1913. The first men’s national team was also established around 1910 and went on to play several basketball matches ahead. This men’s team played ten basketball championships between 1913 and 1934. It was a golden period for the team as it won nine out of these ten championships.

The Philippines men’s national basketball team joined the International Basketball Federation in 1936. The same year, the team made their debut for the Olympic Games and finished fifth in the championship. It participated in several FIBA Asia Championships in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, the team has made quite a name for itself in terms of sports. In the 2013 FIBA Asia championship, the Philippines men’s national basketball team won the silver medal.

In recent years, Gilas Pilipinas has continued to showcase its talent and willpower on the global stage, qualifying for several FIBA World Cups and being a force to be reckoned with in the FIBA Asia Cup. Their journey is a testament to the iconic spirit of Philippine basketball, where the pursuit of greatness continues to fuel the hearts of players and fans alike.

Championships

Over the years, the Philippines men’s national basketball team has been involved in several international competitions. This team has participated in seven Olympic games in its basketball history even though they have never won any medals. In addition to this, the Philippines has played in seven FIBA World Cups and finished third in the 1954 FIBA World Cup.

Moreover, the team has played several unforgettable FIBA Asia Cup matches which have etched their names in the hearts of Filipino people. The team has played a total of 28 FIBA Asia Cup tournaments and won five gold medals in 1960, 1963, 1967, 1973 and 1985. Additionally, they have four silver ( 1965, 1971, 2013, 2015) and one bronze medal in 1969.

As they continue to evolve and grow, the Philippines men’s national basketball team stays a powerhouse in the Asian basketball arena.

Roster (2024 Olympics)

Record- Last 10 Years

Summer Olympics

FIBA World Cup