Gilas Pilipinas during their win against Latvia in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga. Photo from FIBA. 

(2nd UPDATE) Gilas Pilipinas' hopes of booking a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games remain alive after they scored a stunning victory over a European squad. 

The Nationals defied the odds and defeated world No. 6 Latvia, 89-80, in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) at the Riga Arena, early Thursday morning (Manila time).

Justin Brownlee saved the day for the Philippines with a clutch four-point play en route to 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in 37 minutes. Kai Sotto played one of his finest games so far at the international level, with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting on top of eight boards.

Dwight Ramos (12 points), June Mar Fajardo (11) and Chris Newsome (10) also reached double-digits for Gilas, which shot 48.4% from the field including 9-of-20 from long range.

"Our country is so passionate about basketball. Pretty much everybody knows that by now," Gilas head coach Tim Cone said after the win. "For us to be successful on the world stage really means a lot."

"This is a big, huge step for us," he added.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Latvia answered with a fourth-to-nothing spurt to get again to within 10 and even had the chance to cut it to eight, but Brownlee rejected Rihards Lomazs' shot. 

Rihards Lomazs' basket with only 1:38 remaining finally cut PH's lead to eight, but Chris Newsome iced both of his attempts in the 15-foot-line in the next play to restore a 10-point lead.

Dwight Ramos was also fouled in their next possession, and the fan-favorite also made both of his attempts to push their lead to 12.

Davis Bertans then hit a triple to get within nine, and what followed favored Latvia as Newsome was called with an offensive foul with only 31 ticks remaining in the game. These sequences proved to be too late for the Latvians, however, as they absorbed a stunner from the Philippines. 

According to FIBA, this marks the Philippines' first victory over a European nation in an official game since the 1960 Olympic Games, when they defeated Spain 84-82.

Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points and Janis Strelnieks had 10, but Davis Bertans was limited to 10 points on just 2-of-8 shooting from the field. As a team, Latvia shot just 37.5%, and made just 10 of 42 three-point attempts.

Gilas Pilipinas forward Justin Brownlee in action against Latvia. Photo from FIBA

Gilas opened the game with their guns blazing, racing to an 8-0 lead built on deuces from June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto as well as a three-pointer by Brownlee.

A trey by Rodion Kurucs a few plays later allowed Latvia to get within three, 10-7, but the game continued to work in Gilas' favor.

Brownlee and Fajardo took turns in dominating their European counterparts, with the former hitting jumpers and the latter imposing his way inside, but what proved to be more crucial was CJ Perez' buzzer-beating trey to end the first as it built PH a 32-16 lead.

It was Sotto's turn to display his prowess in the second quarter as the 7-foot-3 ace converted both from inside the pain as well as from the midrange to produce an 18-point advantage, but Latvia threatened to close in and brought down the lead to nine, 45-36, after a lay-in by Klavs Cavars with still 1:25 left in the first half.

Fortunately for Gilas, they were able to answer with 11 straight points to regain momentum as the first 20 minutes ended, and the Tim Cone-coached squad even shifted to higher gears in the second half and led by as much as 26, 74-48, after a Ramos trey late in the third.

The Latvians, however, showed why they are the world's sixth best squad and refused to give in just yet. They opened the final frame with a 13-2 run and got as close as 10, 79-69. 

Gilas will return to action tonight and will be facing Georgia at 8:30 p.m.

Despite the loss, Latvia has still qualified for the semifinals thanks to their 83-55 demolition of Georgia in their first game. Meanwhile, Gilas will advance to the semis if they beat Georgia, or if they lose by 18 points or fewer.

According to FIBA, Georgia will only qualify to the semis if they beat the Philippines by 19 points or more. 

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