Gilas Boys, Girls drop in latest FIBA rankings

December 31 ------ It has been a tough stretch for the Gilas Pilipinas Boys and Girls, as both squads dropped their positions in their respective categories in the latest International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rankings.

The Gilas Boys saw themselves dropping eight notches to settle for No. 43 in the global list with 343.3 points. The LA Tenorio-mentored crew, led by Prince Carino and Jolo Pascual, endured a quick exit in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia last September, where it succumbed to Bahrain, 79-66, in the qualification for the quarterfinals.

There, the Gilas Boys closed out their elimination campaign with a 1-3 card with their lone win at the expense of Indonesia, 65-60, before missing out their shot to qualify to the FIBA U17 World Cup. Though it slipped in the international rankings, Gilas Boys remained at a great position in Asia where they placed No. 9 behind Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Lebanon, and Chinese Taipei.

Still No. 1 in the world is Team USA with 832 points, followed by Spain (734.1), Italy (715.4), France (711.1), and Serbia (699.5), with Lithuania (681.7), Turkiye (680.8), Australia (664.8), Germany (646.1), and Canada (643.3) inside the Top Ten. Meanwhile, Gilas Girls skidded two spots to No. 45 with 282.6 points in the standings.

The Filipina cagers also endured a tough loss in semis qualifications of the FIBA U16 Women Asia Cup in Malaysia last September, bowing to powerhouse China, 82-50.

Ella Smith, Makeena Ramos, and Tiffany Reyes, to name a few, spearheaded the crew which got denied to go through to the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup next year but keep their place in Division A. The United States is also leading the in the distaff side with 787.3 points along its closest pursuers in Spain (739.5), Canada (725.5), Australia (714.6), and France (708.3).

Source: mb.com.ph