Philippines joins Italy and Serbia in hosting 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

The Philippines last hosted a FIBA tournament was in 2013

The International Basketball Federation, also known as FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) announced last January 19, 2016 that the Philippines will be hosting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, together with the two other host countries, Italy and Serbia. The 2016 FIBA OQT in the Philippines will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

                                                                                                            
The Philippines failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, due to their lost to the Chinese Basketball Team, and just finishing second in the FIBA Asia Championship last year. But it did not end their hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. They earned a position at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will start on July 4 to 10 in this year. 


The President of SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas), Manny V. Pangilinan, expressed his joy through the social media app, Twitter. Panglinan stated, "YES!! PHILIPPINES TO HOST FIBA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING IN JULY. LABAN PILIPINAS! PUSO!"

Official Twitter post of Manny V. Pangilinan, President of Samhang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

The tournament will be divided into 3 different divisions composed of 6 teams. The Philippine Basketball Team, Gilas Pilipinas, are fighting to earn it's first appearance in the Olympic Basketball Tournament since 1972. 

Gilas Pilipinas will be facing the teams of France, Senegal, Turkey, New Zealand, and Canada. The Philippines will be facing the toughest players from around the world, and some great NBA players.

NBA Players from the teams that will play in the FIBA Qualifying Tournament in the Philippines:

Nicolas Batum

FRANCE
- Nicolas Batum (Charlotte Hornets)
- Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls)
- Ian Mahinmi (Indiana Pacers)
- Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic)
- Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
- Joffrey Lauvergne (Denver Nuggets)

Gorgui Dieng

SENEGAL
- Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Omer Asik

TURKEY
- Ersan Ilyasova (Detroit Pistons)
- Enes Kanter (Oklahoma Thunder)
- Omer Asik (New Orleans Pelicans)

Steven Adams

NEW ZEALAND
- Steven Adams (Oklahoma Thunder) *questionable

Andrew Wiggins

CANADA
- Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Nik Stauskas (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Andrew Nicholson (Orlando Magic)
- Cory Joseph (Toronto Raptors)
- Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics)
- Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks)

Jordan Clarkson

PHILIPPINES
- Jordan Clarkson (Los Angeles Lakers) *questionable

FEU Triumphs in the UAAP Season 78 Senior Men's Basketball Finals

With the FEU Senior's Men's Basketball Team failing to beat the NU Bulldogs last year in their Season 77 Finals match up. Last December 2, 2015, the FEU Tamaraws again reached the UAAP Finals for the second time in a row. Now they are facing a strong and hungry UST team, led by their big 3 composed of Ed Daquioag, Kevin Ferrer, and Karim Abdul.

UST was on top of the game 59-53, during the last 4 minutes of the 4th quarter. Russel Escoto made a freethrow, while RR Pogoy gave FEU a boost in the dying minutes of the 4th quarter of Game 3, gaining 7 points in order carry their team to victory. UST's Kevin Ferrer missed 2 straight 3-point shots, that dissolved the Growling Tiger's chance of winning the Season 78 UAAP championship title. 

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws ended their 10 year championship drought, and won their 20th Championship in UAAP history. FEU Star Forward Mac Belo led the way with 23 points and 8 rebounds, and was named the UAAP Finals MVP, averaging a double-double of 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds. 

Author: Vince Gerard M. Villegas