Marcos congratulates Gilas Pilipinas after FIBA win over Latvia
(FILES) PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos (second from right) playfully looks up to June Mar Fajardo (right) of Gilas Pilipinas as he recognizes their victory in the 19th Asian Games. Also shown are PSC chairman Richard ‘Dickie’ Bachmann (second from left) and POC president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino.
Photograph by Yummie Dingding for the daily tribune @tribunephl_yumi
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the Philippine national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas well wishes on Thursday after their stunning triumph over Latvia in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Marcos took to social media to celebrate the team's remarkable achievement after Gilas Pilipinas pulled off an 89-80 shocker against world no. 6 Latvia during the game.
"64 years in the making and worth every second! Congratulations to Gilas Pilipinas for their victory against world number 6, Latvia, at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament," Marcos said.
"We are all cheering you on from home—let’s shoot for Paris Olympics! Good luck," Marcos added.
Gilas' latest win marked the Philippines’ first victory against any European team in an official Fiba competition since 1960.
The Filipinos plunge back into action Thursday night, facing Georgia to seal their place into the knockout stage. Latvia beat Georgia 83-55 on Tuesday.
The winner of each Fiba OQT will earn a ticket to the Paris Olympics scheduled late this month.