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Full list of 48th PBA Draft

Missed the 48th PBA Draft last Sunday in Market Market, below is the full list of 2023 PBA Rookie Draft where 79 players have been drafted and 45 to go undrafted. As great as crop of players in this year’s draft, it missed some of the popular players who are playing in overseas like Kai Sotto, Kobe Paras and Rhenz Abando.

Nonetheless, here’s the list in order;

First round

  1. Stephen Holt – Terrafirma
  2. Christian David – Blackwater
  3. Luis Villegas – Rain or Shine
  4. Keith Datu – Rain or Shine
  5. Zavier Lucero – NorthPort
  6. Kenneth Tuffin – Phoenix
  7. Richard Rodger- NLEX
  8. Brandon Bates – Meralco
  9. Schonny Winston – Converge
  10. BJ Andrade – Converge
  11. Cade Flores – NorthPort
  12. Taylor James Miller – Terrafirma

Second round

  1. Kemark Cariño – Terrafirma
  2. Bryan Santos – Converge
  3. Henry Galinato – Rain or Shine
  4. Raffy Verano – Phoenix
  5. Ricci Rivero – Phoenix
  6. Enoch Valdez – NLEX
  7. John Louisse delos Santos – Converge
  8. James Kwukuteye – Blackwater
  9. JM Nermal – NLEX
  10. Louie Sangalang – Terrafirma
  11. Ralph Cu – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Adrian Nocum – Rain or Shine

Third round

  1. JB Bahio – Terrafirma
  2. Clifford Jopia – Blackwater
  3. Sherwin Concepcion – Rain or Shine
  4. Matthew Daves – Phoenix
  5. Brent Paraiso – Northport
  6. Dominick Fajardo – NLEX
  7. Inand Val Fornilos – Converge
  8. Jolo Mendoza – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Patrick Maagdenberg – Magnolia
  11. Kim Aurin – Barangay Ginebra
  12. John Toy Mallillin – San Miguel Beer

Fourth round

  1. Tommy Olivario – Terrafirma
  2. Archie Concepcion – Blackwater
  3. JC Cullar – Rain or Shine
  4. John Lloyd Clemente – Phoenix
  5. Fran Yu – Northport
  6. Francis Guissani – NLEX
  7. King Caralipio – Converge
  8. Zach Huang – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Rey Anthony Peralta – Magnolia
  11. Franz Abuda – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jayson Apolonio – San Miguel Beer

Fifth round

  1. Damie Cuntapay – Terrafirma
  2. Dariel Bayla – Blackwater
  3. Larry Arpia Jr. – Rain or Shine
  4. Daniel Atienza – Phoenix
  5. John Amores – Northport
  6. Lorenzo Navarro – NLEX
  7. Rhinwil Yambing – Converge
  8. Jessie Sumoda Jr. – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Warren Bonifacio – Magnolia
  11. Brandrey Bienes – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Ichie Altamirano – San Miguel Beer

Sixth round

  1. Kenneth Villapando – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Joe Gomez de Liaño – Phoenix
  5. Jan Sobrevega – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Kamron Vigan-Fleming – Converge
  8. Shean Jackson – Meralco
  9. Pass- TNT
  10. Christian Buñag – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. John Gob – San Miguel Beer

Seventh round

  1. Jeric Pido – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Theo Flores – Phoenix
  5. Ian Herrera – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Raymond Vinuya – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jayvee dela Cruz – San Miguel Beer

Eighth round

  1. Enrique Caunan – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Junel Bauzon – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Jeffrey Garcia – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Jamel Ramos – San Miguel Beer

Nineth round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Joemari Lacastesantos – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Andree Flores – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Kyt Jimenez – San Miguel Beer

Tenth round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Nikko Paranada – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Jonathan del Rosario – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Pass – San Miguel Beer

Eleventh round

  1. Pass – Terrafirma
  2. Pass – Blackwater
  3. Pass – Rain or Shine
  4. Pass – Phoenix
  5. Regie Boy Basibas – Northport
  6. Pass – NLEX
  7. Pass – Converge
  8. Pass – Meralco
  9. Pass – TNT
  10. Pass – Magnolia
  11. Pass – Barangay Ginebra
  12. Pass – San Miguel Beer

12th round – All teams passed in this round

Source: @pbaofficial

Philippines now in the 38th place in latest FIBA World Ranking Men

The Philippines (Gilas Pilipinas) moved up two places to number 38 in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, which was released on September 10th, 2023. This despite a disappointing campaign in the recently concluded 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas finished the World Cup with a 1-4 record, defeating only China in their final game. However, their win was enough to push them up two spots in the rankings and earn a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) or the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Philippines is now the eighth-best ranked team in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Australia (4th), New Zealand (21th), Japan (26th), Iran (27th), Lebanon (28th), and China (29th).

You can checkout the full rankings here. To know how the ranking is determine, you can checkout the HOW IT WORKS.

The improvement in the rankings is a sign that Gilas Pilipinas is on the right track. The team has a young and talented core, and they are gaining experience in major international competitions. With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, Gilas Pilipinas will be looking to continue their improvement and qualify for the Games for the first time since 1972.

Official List of Applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft

Today is the big day for all PBA hopefuls, the 48th Season PBA Draft is considered as one of the deepest draft pool with 124 applicants locally and internationally.

Terrafirma, Blackwater, Rain or Shine and Northport are the teams that will be choose the top 5 picks.

Below are the official list of applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft;

The 48th Season PBA Draft will be at the Market! Market! in Taguig at 4 pm on Sunday, September 17th.

The 13-man Roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

These are the 13-man Roster of Gilas Pilipinas who will compete for the Men’s Basketball of the 19th Asian Games;

  1. Calvin Abueva
  2. Terrence Romeo
  3. June Mar Fajardo
  4. Scottie Thompson
  5. Roger Pogoy
  6. Japeth Aguilar
  7. Justin Brownlee
  8. Ange Kouame
  9. Stanley Pringle
  10. Chris Newsome
  11. Calvin Oftana
  12. Jason Perkins
  13. Mo Tautuaa

Gilas is included in Group C with Jordan, Bahrain and Thailand.

Gilas Pilipinas new Head Coach will be Tim Cone, with Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, LA Tenorio, and Josh Reyes as his assistant coaches.

The 5×5 basketball of the 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium and Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 26 to October 6, and the final in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, where the athletes will compete for 2 gold medals.

Final Standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

After 16 days and 92 games, below are the final standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023;

  1. Germany (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Europe, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Champions)
  2. Serbia (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Europe)
  3. Canada (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Americas)
  4. USA (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Americas)
  5. Latvia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  6. Lithuania (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  7. Slovenia(qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  8. Italy (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  9. Spain (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  10. Australia (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Oceania)
  11. Montenegro (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  12. Puerto Rico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  13. Brazil (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  14. Dominican Republic (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  15. Greece (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  16. Georgia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  17. South Sudan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Africa)
  18. France (qualified for Paris 2024 as hosts)
  19. Japan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Asia)
  20. Egypt (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  21. Finland (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  22. New Zealand (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  23. Lebanon (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  24. Philippines (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  25. Mexico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  26. Angola (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  27. Cote d’Ivoire (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  28. Cape Verde
  29. China
  30. Venezuela
  31. Iran
  32. Jordan

Gilas will still have a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics but it will a much harder path than winning in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Germany defeated Serbia 83-77 in the final to win their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title. Canada defeated the United States 127-118 in overtime to win the bronze medal.

With democratization of Basketball, it appears that United States is no longer the basketball powerhouse it used to be, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tournament proved that and Noah Lyles’s statement regarding being the “World Champion” may have been justified.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a thrilling tournament, with many memorable moments. Germany’s victory was a major upset, but they played a near-perfect game and deserved to win. Congratulations to Germany on their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title!

Germany Makes History, Wins First-Ever FIBA World Cup 2023 Title

Germany made history on Sunday, September 10, 2023, by defeating Serbia 83-77 to win the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines. It was Germany’s first-ever title in the tournament, and it came after a thrilling and hard-fought game against an undermanned but tough Serbian team.

The game was close throughout, with neither team able to pull away until mid-3rd qtr. Germany led by as many as five points early in the third quarter, but Serbia tied the game at 51 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch but the Germans started pull away and eventually built a 12-pts lead with a 13-2 run in the third quarter in front of 12,022 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.

That’s when Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner took over for Germany. The duo scored 47 of Germany’s 83 points, including the final two free-throw of Schroder that basically sealed the game for the team. Schroder finished with 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Franz Wagner scored 19 points, 7 rebs, 2 assist and 4 steals.

Germany’s victory was a major upset, as Serbia was the defending champion and had been the top-ranked team in the world for most of the year. However, Germany played a near-perfect game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. The Germans also outrebounded Serbia 35-29 and outscored Serbia’s bench 46-15.

The victory is a major step forward for German basketball. The team has been steadily improving in recent years, and this victory is a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

The victory also caps a remarkable year for Germany. After placing 3rd place in the 2022 EuroBasket, and they are now the reigning world champions. Germany is quickly becoming one of the top basketball teams in the world, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.

Team USA falls to Canada for the 3rd Place of the FIBA World Cup 2023

Canada made history at the FIBA World Cup 2023 by winning its first-ever medal at the tournament, defeating USA 127-118 in overtime in the third-place game on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.

As expected between two NBA laden team, it was a roller coaster game that had 14 lead changes, 12-0 scoring run by the Americans and 8-0 by the Canadians, and it was punctuated by Mikal Bridges at the end of the 4th qtr; he missed 2nd free-throw on purpose, got the rebound, then hits corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left to extend the game to over time. In the OT, the Canadians had other plans, since they outscored Team USA, 16 to 7 to secure the bronze medal.

The Canadians, who had never finished higher than sixth in the World Cup, protected a 2-point lead at the start of OT and outscored the Americans 7-16.

Dillon Brooks was the hero for Canada, scoring a game-high 39 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a steals and a couple of blocks in a stellar performance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was equally impressive, adding 31 points, twelve assists and six rebounds. He scored nine of Canada’s 16 points in overtime, including an assist to RJ Barrett for a a clutch 3-pointer that gave them a 115 – 124 lead with 0:23 secs left.

Canada also got contributions from Kelly Olynyk (11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Luguentz Dort (11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) and Dwight Powell (4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).

Team Highlights

USA, meanwhile, will go home without a medal for the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA has not won a medal in the World Cup since 2014, that featured a roster lead by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Anthony Davis.

Six players of Team USA had double digits points; Mikal Bridges with 19 pts, 9 rebs, 2 steals and 4 assists, Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 pts and 5 rebs, then there’s Austin Reaves who contributed 23 pts, 5 rebs, an assists and a steal, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Bobby Portis Jr. also made big contributions scoring 13 pts, 10 pts and 14 pts respectively.

Despite the loss, Team USA, already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France and we can expect that the team will have totally different roster.

FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals Bracket is Set

With Germany’s win, this is the Finals Bracket for the FIBA World Cup 2023;

Finals will be between Germany and Serbia, while the battle for 3rd will be between USA and Canada. Serbia defeated Canada (95 – 86), Bogdan Bogdanavic is the best player in the game with 23 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists and 3 steals. For Canada, it was RJ Barrett with 23 pts and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 15 pts and 9 assists.

As for the USA – Germany team (113 – 111), Anthony is the U.S. top scorer with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points.

Both USA and Canada are the favorites to face in the finals but it looks like their European counterpart have other plans.

FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals will on Sunday, Sept. 10th at the MOA Arena.

Finals
Serbia vs Germany – 16:30 local time

3rd Place game
USA vs Canada – 20:40 local time.

Germany upsets Team USA in FIBA World Cup 2023 Semifinal (113 – 111)

The United States men’s basketball team was stunned by Germany in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night, losing 113-111. The loss is a major upset, as the US was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament.

The US got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, they rallied to take a 60-59 lead into halftime. Germany came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the US 35-24 to take a 94-84 lead. The US made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get any closer than 106 -108.

Anthony Edwards led the way for the US with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points. Dennis Schroder, who have been best player in the roster, chipped-in 17 pts and 9 assists.

The loss is a major disappointment for the US, who have won the World Cup four times in the past five tournaments. It is also a setback for the development of the US men’s basketball program, which has been struggling in recent years.

The US will now play Canada in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Germany will play Serbia in the championship game.

Here’s the latest bracket for the Semis of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

Now that Quarter-Finals (QF) is done and we have now have a clear picture on who will compete for the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and which is worth watching.

Team USA versus the Germans
The game will be this Friday, 8th of Sept at the MOA arena. Team USA advanced to the Semis after defeating ITALY in the most convincing manner (100 – 63). The Americans needed a strong win against the Italians after being handed by their only loss in the tournament by Lithuania. On the other side, Germany barely escape Latvia in the QF but remain to the one of the few undefeated team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, who are both NBA veterans, are the top performers of the team on points, rebounds and assists.

For Team USA, their top performers are Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton and we cannot disregard the fact anyone in the team can explode and carry team to the finals, just like what Mikal Bridges did against Italy in the QF, where in scored a team high of 24 points and 6 rebounds.

Serbia versus Canada
The game will this Friday, 8th of Sept 16:45 local time at the MOA Arena. Serbia took care of the business by eliminating Lithuania and bringing them back down from cloud 9, after defeating USA in the last game of the second round.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov are the top performer of Serbia. Bogdanovic is the top scorer in their game against Lithuania, chipping-in 21 pts with 4 rebs, while Nikola Milutinov is the towering presence in the middle and top rounder of the team.

For team Canada, we may very well call this Team B of NBA in FIBA, since 7 of the 12 players in the roster are playing in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player, leading in all stats; 25 pts/game, 7.2 rebs/game and 5 assists per game.

The winners for each game will face in the finals, while the two losing team will play for the 3rd place. Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is scheduled on Saturday, Sept 10th at the MOA Arena.

Full schedule of the Quarter, Semis, Finals and Classification Games of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

Now that the 1st and second round is done, here the remaining games for the of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Qualified teams who played in Japan and Indonesia will be travelling to the Philippines, since all QF, SF and Finals games will be played at the MOA Arena.

QUARTER FINALS

September 5 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Lithuania vs Serbia – 16:45 local time (Game #82)
Italy vs USA – 20:40 local time (Game #81)

September 6 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Germany vs Latvia – 16:45 local time (Game #83)
Canada vs Slovenia – 20:30 local time (Game #84)

September 7 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Loser QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #85)
Loser QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Loser QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #86)

September 8 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Winner QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Winner QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #87)
Winner QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Winner QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #88)

September 9 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Loser CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #89 – Class. Games 7-8)
Winner CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Winner CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #90 – Class. Games 5-6)

September 10 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Loser SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #91 – 3rd Place Game)
Winner SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Winner SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #92 – Championship)

Source: FIBA, FIBA Games

Team USA Suffers First Loss of FIBA World Cup 2023 to Lithuania

Team USA’s unbeaten run at the FIBA World Cup 2023, winning their first five games of the tournament, came to an end on Sunday 3rd of September, when they lost to Lithuania in a thrilling encounter. The final score was 110-104 in favor of Lithuania and in front of 11,349 fans.

The game was played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, and saw Lithuania, who played a physical and aggressive game, take control early on. The Lithuanias built a 19 pts lead (12 – 31) in the first qtr and ended the first half with a comfortable 17 pts lead (37 – 54). The Americans led by Anthony Edwards tried to staged a come back but could not get closer than 4 pts (85 -89) with 4:45 mins remaining in the game. Anthony Edwards scored 34 pts and 2 assists, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges both scored 14 pts but where in effective in the closing period of the game. The trio are the only American player to score in double figures.

Compared to the Team USA, Lithuania played a more balanced game with 7 players in double figures. The team is lead by Vaidas Kariniauskas with 15 pts, followed by Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Jonas Valanciunas, who scored 14 pts and 12 pts, respectively. Valanciunas also grabbed 7 rebs with his 2 blocks.

Lithuania killed the Americans in the second chance points category, making 17 pts against 2 pts from Team USA, 61 – 38 point off the bench. They also shot 52.8% from the field and 56% from three-point range, compare to 37.9% in the 3-pts by the Americans.

The loss is a wake-up call for Team USA, which is still considered the favorite to win the tournament. However, they will need to play better if they want to avoid further upsets.
Despite the loss, Team USA still advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup and are qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They will face Italy on Tuesday, while the Lithuania will face Serbia, who are 4 – 1 in the tournament.

Game Highlights

Gilas Pilipinas defeated China for their first win in the Classification round of the FIBA World Cup 2023

The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, secured a rousing and convincing win against China in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The game was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 2, 2023. The Philippines capped off its World Cup campaign with a 1-4 win-loss slate.

The game was close in teh first half of the game, with neither team able to pull away. But in the 3rd quarter, led by Jordan Clarkson, Rhenz Abando and Dwight Ramos, Gilas was able to build a 23 point cushion by the end of 3rd qtr and led by as many as 25 points at 5:19 mark of the 4th quarter, China tried to catch up but the game was already decided at that point. The trio scored a total 59 points.

Jordan Clarkson had 34 points, two boards, and three dimes while Rhenz Abando contributed 14 markers and 5 rebs. Dwight Ramos chipped in 11 pts, 5 rebs and 4 assists. On the otherhand, Kyle Anderson (Kaier Li) led the Chinese team with 17 points, 9 reds and 5 assists while Zhenlin Zhang added 13 pts, 3 rebs.

The victory against China has lifted the Philippines to 24th place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup rankings and secure a slot for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT). which is the “16 following next best-ranked teams” category or the next best 16 placers in the World Cup that have not secured a place in the Olympics.

Highlights

The FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, abbreviated as FIBA World OQT, and formerly known as the FIBA Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament, is the last qualifying tournament for the Olympic Basketball Tournament. The best non-champions from the different FIBA World zones qualify for the tournament and compete for the last remaining berths in the Summer Olympic Games.

Compared to the World Cup Tournament, the Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be a more difficult competition, since Philippines will face other teams from different continents including Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Another loss by Gilas Pilipinas to Angola in FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers (70-80)

The Philippines men’s national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, lost to Angola, 80-70, in their FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers game on Sunday, August 27th at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. This defeat left Gilas Pilipinas winless in Group A of the tournament.

Gilas Pilipinas had a strong start to the game, taking a 19-12 lead after the first quarter. However, Angola responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Gilas Pilipinas 24-14 to take a 36-33 lead at halftime.

Angola continued to control the game with their defense in the second half, and they extended their lead to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter with 3:39 remaining in the game. Gilas Pilipinas made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get closer than 5 points but there was only 1:12 remaining in the game.

Gilas Pilipinas had a chance to clinch their first FIBA World Cup win in nearly a decade, but they were unable to overcome Angola’s strong defense. The game was expected to be a dream celebration for Gilas Pilipinas in front of a wild, sold-out crowd, but it turned into a nightmare.

Jordan Clarkson led Gilas Pilipinas with 21 points, 3 rebs and 7 assists, but he shot just 7-of-22 from the field and -14 in the plus/minus column. Kai Sotto added 8 points and 6 rebounds, and Dwight Ramos had 8 points.

On the Angola side, Gerson Goncalves led team with 17 points and 6 rebs, and Gerson Domingos added 15 points and 7 assists. Bruno Fernando, who had an emphatic dunk against Clarkson early in the game, added 14 points and 7 rebounds.

You can checkout the Statsheet of Gilas Pilipinas below;

This game was crucial for Gilas Pilipinas as they were looking to advance to the next round of the tournament. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure a win against Angola. Despite this setback, Gilas Pilipinas remained determined to bounce back in their next game against Italy.

Gilas Pilipinas Falls to Dominican Republic in FIBA World Cup 2023 Opener (87-81)

Gilas Pilipinas fell to the Dominican Republic, 87-81, in their opening game of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippines Arena in Bulacan on Friday, August 25, 2023.

It was a close game in first three quarters of the game, the Philippines got off to a hot start, falling behind Dominican Republic by 4 pts at the end of first quarter. Gilas made a run in the 2nd qtr that ended in a deadlock at 42 – 42.

The Dominican Republic ended the 3rd qtr leading by 2 behind the dominant game of Jean Montero and Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a team high 26 points and 10 rebs.

The Philippines tried to rally in the last qtr but a late run by the Dominican Republic and Jordan Clarkson fouling out in the final quarter denied the Philippines an upset in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Clarkson finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists before fouling out. The final score was 87-81 in favor of the Dominican Republic.

Junmar Fajardo led the Pinoys with 16 pts and 7 rebs, followed by Dwight Ramos with 13 pts, 6 rebs and two assists.

The loss was a tough one for Gilas Pilipinas, since Gilas was right there to take win, but they will have a chance to bounce back when they face Angola on Sunday, Aug 27, 2023 at the Arena Coliseum.

The Scores
Dominican Republic 87 – Towns 26, Liz 18. Feliz 12, Delgado 6, Montero 6, Figueroa 5, Peña 5, Vargas 5, Mendoza 2, Quiñones 2, Solano 0.

Philippines 81 – Clarkson 28, Fajardo 16, Ramos 13, Edu 7, Pogoy 6, Thompson 5, Abando 2, Aguilar 2, Ravena 2, Malonzo 0, Sotto 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 42-42, 66-64, 87-81.

SBP official announce the 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 2023 FIBA World Cup

It’s official, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announce the final 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas that will compete for the Group A of 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Bellow is the full text of SBP’s official announcement;

This is the official 12-man lineup of Gilas Pilipinas Men for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:

  • Rhenz Abando
  • Japeth Aguilar
  • Jordan Clarkson
  • AJ Edu
  • June Mar Fajardo
  • Jamie Malonzo
  • CJ Perez
  • Roger Pogoy
  • Dwight Ramos
  • Kiefer Ravena
  • Kai Sotto
  • Scottie Thompson

Coaches:

  • Vincent “Chot” Reyes (head coach)
  • Tim Cone (assistant coach)
  • Jong Uichico (assistant coach)

SBP also made the announcement in X, formerly twitter.

Full schedule of the First Round (Group Phase) of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

If you want to know when and where the games of your favorite team, then you can checkeout the full schedule of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The tournament will be from August 25th to September 10th, games will be held simultaneous in all 4 locations; Smart Araneta and MOA Arena for the Philippine leg, then in Okinawa Arena in Japan and Indonesia Arena in Jakarta Indonesia. There will be 8 games a day until the Final phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, were there will only be two games per day and every games will be held at the MOA Arena.

GROUP PHASE – 1ST ROUND

August 25 – 8 Games (Opening Day)

Philippine Arena (Philippines)
– Angola vs Italy – 16:00 local time
– Dominican Republic vs Philippines – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Mexico vs Montenegro – 16:45 local time
– Egypt – Lithuania – 20:30 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Finland vs Australia – 17:00 local time
– Germany vs Japan – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Latvia vs Lebanon – 16:15 local time
– Canada vs France – 20:30 local time

August 26 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– South Sudan vs Puerto Rico – 16:00 local time
– Serbia vs China – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Jordan vs Greece – 16:45 local time
– United States – New Zealand – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Cape Verde vs Georgia – 17:00 local time
– Slovenia vs Venezuela – 20:30 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Iran vs Brazil – 16:45 local time
Spain vs Cote d’Ivoire – 20:30 local time

August 27 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– Italy vs Dominican Republic – 16:00 local time
– Philippines vs Angola – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Montenegro vs Egypt – 16:45 local time
– Lithuania vs Mexico – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Australia vs Germany – 17:00 local time
– Japan vs Finland – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Lebanon vs Canada – 16:45 local time
– France vs Latvia – 20:30 local time

August 28 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– China vs South Sudan – 16:00 local time
– Puerto Rico vs Serbia – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– New Zealand vs Jordan – 16:45 local time
– Greece vs United States – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Venezuela vs Cape Verde – 17:00 local time
– Georgia vs Slovenia – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Cote d’Ivoire vs Iran – 16:45 local time
– Brazil vs Spain – 20:30 local time

August 29 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– Angola vs Dominican Republic – 16:00 local time
– Philippines vs Italy – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Egypt vs Mexico – 16:45 local time
– Montenegro vs Lithuania – 20:30 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Germany vs Finland – 17:00 local time
– Australia vs Japan – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Lebanon vs France – 16:45 local time
– Canada vs Latvia – 20:30 local time

August 30 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– South Sudan vs Serbia – 16:00 local time
– China vs Puerto Rico – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– United States vs Jordan – 16:45 local time
– Greece vs New Zealand – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Georgia vs Venezuela – 17:00 local time
– Slovenia vs Cape Verde – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Cote d’Ivoire vs Brazil – 16:45 local time
– Iran vs Spain – 20:30 local time

Games for the Second Round (Classification 17-32) will be determine after the last game of the First Round – Group Phase.

This is Gilas Pilipinas’ final lineup for the Group A FIBA World Cup 2023

We are just days before the opening games of the Group A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippine Arena, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has finalized their 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas is composed of five FIBA World Cup returnees and seven first-timers. NBA veteran Jordan Clarkson will lead the squad. World Cup returnees June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, and Roger Pogoy, they represented the country in the previous FIBA World Cup in China four years ago.

World Cup first-timers Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, AJ Edu, Jamie Malonzo, and Rhenz Abando will complete the squad. The staff is compose of Head Coach Chot Reyes with assistant coaches Tim Cone, Jong Uichico, Josh Reyes.

Four players were cut from the team after a rigorous two-month training: Chris Newsome, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Thirdy Ravena and Calvin Oftana.

Gilas Pilipinas will face Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy on Aug. 25, 27 and 29 respectively. The top three teams in each group advanced to the second round. You can find the team groupings here.

Goodies and free rides await fans at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 opening day

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just five-days away, and fans are gearing up for the big event. The opening day of the tournament will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on August 25, 2023, and organizers are offering a number of freebies and rides to fans who will be attending.

One of the highlights of the opening day festivities is the free Jollibee Cheesy Yumburger that will be given to all ticket-holders. Fans in the different sections will also receive free FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 merchandise, such as scarves, fan clappers, and rally towels. A special LED wristbands will also be distributed, to allow everyone in the arena to be part of a special lights show that will take place.

In addition to the freebies, fans will also be able to enjoy free rides to and from the Philippine Arena. The SBP has partnered with the Department of Transportation to provide free point-to-point (P2P) shuttle buses from different points in Metro Manila. Tournament organizers have arranged to deploy 400 49-seater premium grade airconditioned buses from 12 strategic take-off points, namely, the PITX Bus Terminal, Mall of Asia Arena, One Ayala Bus Terminal, BGC Market Market Bus Terminal, SM Megamall, Araneta City, Trinoma, SM North, Clover Leaf Ayala Mall Bus Terminal, SM Baliuag, SM Pampanga, and SM Clark, to transport fans to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Opening games of the Group A action in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be between Angola against powerhouse Italy, followed by home team Gilas Pilipinas taking on the Dominican Republic at 8pm.

Source: SBP

Brazilian Superstar Neymar Jr. Joins Saudi Club Al-Hilal in Two-Year Deal

Brazilian superstar Neymar has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a two-year deal, the club announced on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. Neymar, who had been with Paris Saint-Germain since 2017, leaves the French club after scoring 118 goals in 173 appearances. He won the Ligue 1 title with PSG five times, but the club was never able to win the Champions League, which Neymar had been hoping to achieve.

After signing his transfer contract, Neymar Jr. stated that he was very happy, winning titles and friends in Europe and he enjoyed special times. Being a global player, always wanted to test himself in new challenges and opportunities in new places. He said, “I want to write a new history, and the Saudi Professional League has tremendous energy and quality players and is in great growth at the moment, so I believe it is the desired place.”

He added, “Al-Hilal is a giant club with fantastic fans, and it is the best in Asia. This gives me a feeling that it is the right decision for me at the right time with the right club, i love winning and scoring goals, and I plan to continue doing that in Saudi Arabia and with Al-Hilal.”

Al-Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, holding 66 official titles. The club is also a regular participant in the AFC Champions League, and has won the tournament four times.

Neymar’s arrival is a major coup for Al-Hilal and is expected to boost the club’s chances of winning more trophies and retaining their leadership in the coming years. The Brazilian is one of the most popular and marketable players in the world, and his signing is sure to attract attention to the Saudi Professional League.

The transfer fee for Neymar is reported to be around $90 million, making it the most expensive transfer in Saudi Arabian football history.

Neymar’s move to Saudi Arabia has been met with mixed reactions. Some have criticized the move, saying that it is a waste of money for a club in a relatively small league. Others have defended the move, saying that it is a good opportunity for Neymar to experience a new culture and challenge himself in a new league.

Source: AlHIlal, Reuters, neymarjr.com

Kai Sotto Cleared to Play for Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA World Cup 2023

Kai Sotto, the 7-foot-3 center who is considered to be one of the Philippines’ best basketball prospects, has been cleared to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila.

Sotto had been sidelined with a back injury that he suffered during his stint in the NBA Summer League. He was initially ruled out of the World Cup, but he has since made a full recovery and has been practicing with Gilas Pilipinas to get back in playing shape.

“Our doctors spoke to his doctors and he’s been cleared to play. So that’s good news,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio said during the special PSA Forum on Tuesday at the Meralco headquarters in Ortigas.

Sotto’s addition to the Gilas Pilipinas roster is a major boost for the team. He is a physical presence in the paint and he has a good shooting touch. He is also a good passer and rebounder.

Gilas Pilipinas is in Group A of the FIBA World Cup, along with Dominican Republic, Italy, and Angola. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will take place from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Sotto’s participation in the World Cup is a major step in his basketball career. He is hoping to help Gilas Pilipinas make a deep run in the tournament and he is also hoping to attract the attention of NBA scouts.

Sotto’s clearance to play is a major boost for Gilas Pilipinas’ chances of success in the World Cup. He is a talented player who has the potential to make a big impact on the team. With Sotto in the lineup, Gilas Pilipinas will be a more dangerous team.

Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade and the rest of Class of 2023 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

It official, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol and Dwyane Wade are officially HOFers, since they have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the rest of the Class of 2023.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2023 on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. The class included five players, six coaches, and the 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s team.

The inducted players are:

  • Dwyane Wade, a 13-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion who spent majority of his entire career with the Miami Heat. He also won NBA Finals MVP (2006) and NBA All-Star Game MVP (2010)

  • Dirk Nowitzki, a 14-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion and Finals MVP (2011) who spent his entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks. He also member of the 50–40–90 club in 2007.

  • Pau Gasol, a six-time All-Star who won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant and took home the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002.

  • Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion who spent his entire 18-year career with the San Antonio Spurs. He is also NBA Finals MVP (2007) and 6-time NBA All-Star.

  • Becky Hammon, a six-time WNBA All-Star who won the WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces and named as WNBA Coach of the Year in 2022.

The inducted coaches are:

  • Gregg Popovich, a five-time NBA champion as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and considered as the winningest coach in NBA history with a 1364-759 record. He is also a three-time NBA Coach of the Year in 2003, 2012 and 2014.

  • Jim Valvano, a two-time champion for both national and regular season at North Carolina State who is best known for his “Never Give Up” speech in the 1983 NCAA championship game. He died at age 47 on April 28, 1993, less than two months after his famous ESPY speech, following a nearly year long battle with cancer of unknown origin.
  • Gene Keady, a seven-time Big Ten coach of the year at Purdue and considered as the winningest coach in Big Ten history.
  • Gary Blair, he lead the Texas A&M to a NCAA national championship in 2011 and listed in the top 35 of the all-time winningest NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches, and he is one of the few coaches to guide three different schools to national rankings and NCAA Tournament berths.
  • Gene Bess, led Three Rivers to the junior college national championship and the first college basketball coach to reach 1,000 wins in college basketball history.

The 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s team was inducted as a team. The team won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, becoming the first women’s basketball team to win an Olympic gold medal. The induction ceremony was attended by over 7,000 fans. The inductees were all given a warm welcome and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Team USA roster for the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

Team USA is included in GROUP C that will play in Manila for the first round of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines.

Below are the Team USA Roster and their schedules of their exhibition games, and their three first-round games in the Philippines.

Team USA roster

  • Paolo Banchero, Forward, Orlando Magic
  • Mikal Bridges, Forward, Brooklyn Nets
  • Jalen Brunson, Guard, New York Knicks
  • Anthony Edwards, Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Tyrese Haliburton, Guard, Indiana Pacers
  • Josh Hart, Guard, New York Knicks
  • Brandon Ingram, Forward, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Jaren Jackson Jr., Center, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Cam Johnson, Forward, Brooklyn Nets
  • Walker Kessler, Center, Utah Jazz
  • Bobby Portis, Forward, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Austin Reaves, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

Coaches: Steve Kerr (Golden State), Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat), Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers), Mark Few (Gonzaga University)

Team USA schedule


Exhibition Games

  • Team USA 117, Puerto Rico 74 – done
  • Aug. 12 vs. Slovenia in Malaga, Spain
  • Aug. 13 vs. Spain in Malaga, Spain
  • Aug. 18 vs. Greece in Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Aug. 20 vs. Germany in Abu Dhabi, UAE

FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023 First Round

  • Aug. 26 vs. New Zealand, 8:40 a.m. ET
  • Aug. 28 vs. Greece, 8:40 a.m. ET
  • Aug. 30 vs. Jordan, 4:40 a.m. ET

Cignal and Smart own the broadcast rights for FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023, games for Group C will be held at the MOA Arena.

FIBA introduces LED Basketball court

Basketball fans may soon see a different kind of basketball court as FIBA introduced the first ever LED glass flooring, it premiered at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid.

The LED glass court will feature full video floor that allows for interactive applications, as well as other benefits. For example, the court is much brighter than a traditional basketball court, which makes it easier for players to see the ball and the court markings. It can also feature player tracking to the video floor, display live stats and athletic achievements on the floor, providing fans with enhanced interaction and better engagement as well as an enhanced show staging with additional options for sponsorship and marketing.

Additionally, the court is also more durable than a traditional court, which means that it will last longer and require less maintenance.

FIBA already approved the used of LED Glass court developed by ASB GlassFloor for events it oversees and the one that they used in the 2021 Ruhr Games in Bochum and 3×3 basketball in Germany. NBA is already using On-Court Projection Mapping and may just be a matter of time before we see an LED Glass Basketball court.

Golf: Warriors Steph Curry make a hole-in-one at American Century Golf Championship

GSW Star Steph Curry already cemented himself as the Greatest Shooter in Basketball and it looks like being a shooter is not only in the basketball court but also in the golf course.

At the American Century Golf Championship, Steph Curry made a hole-in-one on the par-three seventh hole at the American Century Championship on Saturday. It bounced once on the green and into the hold for the 4-time NBA Champ and tournament leader, he sprinted down the 152-yard hole in excitement after the shot.

The day before, Steph also made a difficult putt shot where the ball curve rolls across the green as it curves to the hole.

Curry later revealed that this is his second hole-in-one.

Fellow NBA star Lebron James reacted to Curry’s amazing shot.

Curry’s hole in one made him the leader of the tournament and could take home this year’s American Century Golf Championship.

Kai Sotto finally played in the 2023 NBA Summer League

After receiving a DNP in the first 3 games, Kai Sotto finally played his first game in the NBA Summer League against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In his first game in the NBA Summer League, 7’3″ Kai Sotto made the most of his 13 mins play time by scoring 6 pts, 4 rebs, 1 assists and 3 blocks.

Sotto entered the game at the start of the 2nd qtr, replacing Robert Baker. Even though he did not score, Sotto was active on the defense blocking a Shaedon Sharpe layup and a couple of defensive rebounds. Kai Sotto made his first-ever basket on a putback with less than a minute to go in the 3rd.

In the 4th, he made a 14-foot jumper an assist from Quinndary Weatherspoon and a 2-foot dunk from a Tyger Campbell assists. An assists to Quinndary Weatherspoon then blocked a 6-foot hook shot by Rayan Rupert. Orlando Magic ended the Summer League with a 0 – 4 standing. Orlando still have a consolation game on Sunday against the Boston Celtics and hopefully Kai Sotto will have a much better outing than this one.

Another DNP for Kai Sotto in a loss to the Indian Pacers (108 – 85)

It was another disappointment for Filipino fans who went to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, Manila time, to see Kai Sotto in action. Instead, the 7-foot-3 Hiroshima Dragonflies center was benched once more in a loss to the Pacers.

The Orlando coaching staff once again gave priority to contracted players and draft picks though at the 2:22 mark in the 2nd qtr, fans can be heared chanting “We Want Sotto!” The game was decided in the middle of the second qtr, where the Pacers are enjoying a 17-pt lead.

Kai Sotto will have 2 more games for his NBA Summer League debut; July 12th facing the New York Knicks and on July 13th against the Portland Trail Blazers. Sotto was also a DNP in the first game against the Detroit Pistons.

NBA announces that there will be an In-Season Tournament this 2023-24 season

NBA just announced that they will be an In-Season Tournament this season. The tournament is structured similar to the FIBA Tournament where there will be a group competition and knockout rounds. The In-Season Tournament will start on Friday, Nov. 3 in NBA team markets and the Semifinals (Thursday, Dec. 7) and Championship (Saturday, Dec. 9) will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“We are excited to introduce the NBA In-Season Tournament as an opportunity to further enhance and innovate around our season structure,” said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. “With the addition of this new marquee event on the NBA calendar, we are focused on providing players and teams with another competition to win, engaging fans in a different way and driving further interest in the early portion of the regular-season schedule.”

NBA also announced the groupings for the In-Season Tournament, there will be 3 Group for each conference that will have 5 teams for each groupings. NBA said that groupings are randomly drawn within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season.

Eastern Conference

  • East A: Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons
  • East B: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets
  • East C: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic

Western Conference

  • West A: Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers
  • West B: Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets
  • West C: Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs

In the “Group Play“, each team will play four designated Group Play games – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road – on “Tournament Nights,” which will take place every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 3-28 (with the exception of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, when no games will be played).

The two teams with the best record in their respective groups will advance the the “Knockout Rounds” with the addition of two wild cards (the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group). The Knockout Rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals and Championship (played in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, respectively). The Knockout teams will compete for a prize pool and the new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup.

Below is the In-Season Tournament prize pool will be allocated to the players on the teams that participate in the Knockout Rounds as follows:

  • Players on winning team of Championship: $500,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Championship: $200,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Semifinals: $100,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Quarterfinals: $50,000 each

At the end of the In-Season Tournament, there will be the Most Valuable Player of the In-Season Tournament and the All-Tournament Team. Selection will be based on the players’ performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

The In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the Championship. Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, including those games that are part of Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

Here’s the video that NBA released explaining the In-Season Tournament;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1Vk286308

Kai Sotto is a DNP in the Magic – Piston Game at the NBA Summer League

Filipino fans need to wait a bit longer for them to see Kai Sotto for his NBA Summer League debut, since he was a DNP “did not play – coach’s decision” in the Magic – Piston Game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, Manila time.

Sotto is suiting up for the Orlando Magic but did not play against the Detroit Pistons, who fielded Ausar Thompson, a top 5 draft pick, with 2nd year Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, as well as a former GSW Top 2 Pick James Wiseman.

Kai Sotto and the Orlando Magics have 3 more games for the NBA Summer League; on July 10th against the Indiana Pacers; July 12th facing the New York Knicks and on July 13th against the Portland Trail Blazers.