Gilas Pilipinas Bags Silver At FIBA Asia 2013

Gilas Pilipinas, the national basketball team of the Philippines, ended up with silver medal after falling to Iran, 85-71, during the Finals of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships held on Sunday, August 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gilas Pilipinas Bags Silver At FIBA Asia 2013

Aside from earning silver, Gilas Pilipinas also secured a ticket to the 2014 FIBA World Championships to be held next year in Madrid, Spain. Iran and South Korea, which took home the gold and the bronze, respectively, also qualified for next year's world cup.

"The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas for winning the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships—and with it, a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain," Sec. Edwin Lacierda said Sunday night. "This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and perseverance from our players and their families, from our coaching staff, from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and, most of all, from the entire Filipino nation, who has always stood behind the national team through their struggles and triumphs."

He added, "In unison, the nation urged our team forward, and with consummate 'puso,' they laid everything on the line for flag and country. Gilas Pilipinas has shown the world that no one can outsize the heart of the Filipino. May their performance inspire every Filipino to relentlessly pursue excellence, no matter what field they find themselves in, so that, together, we may fulfill our shared aspiration of a Philippine nation greater than ever before."

Gilas Pilipinas point guard Jayson Castro also made it to All-Star Five of the FIBA Asia Championship, joining Kim Mingoo of South Korea, Lin Chih-Chieh of Chinese Taipei, and Oshin Sahakian and Hamed Haddadi of Iran as the tournament’s top performers.

The silver finish is the Philippines' highest placement since winning the Asian title in 1985.