Nimes camp set up for six PH para bets to train, taper off

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The Philippine contingent for the Paralympic Games in Paris starting Aug. 28 will have a considerable period to get acclimatized as they set up camp in Nimes, France, two weeks before the opening ceremonies.

The 10-day stay at a sports facility in the southern French city serves not only as their tapering period but the opportunity to shake off the jet lag due to a long flight from Manila.

Delegation officials will also make sure that all six bets that will see action in swimming, athletics, archery and taekwondo will be properly fed and would not need to make adjustments to their eating habits.

“I was told that rice is available in Asian stores, so we will cook our meals,’’ said swimming coach Tony Ong. “This is very important, because we need to make sure our athletes eat there properly.’’

Rice is not popular in French cuisine which is made up mostly of baguettes and croissants as sources of carbohydrates.

Para swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom will leave for Nimes on Aug. 11 and enter the Paralympic Village in Paris on Aug. 21 along with thrower Cendy Asusano, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin and archer Agustina Bantiloc.

Originally, a monthlong training camp for the para athletes was initially discussed, but they instead preferred to do a shorter camp for tapering—the practice of reducing exercise in the days just before an important competition. INQ



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Newsome’s great Meralco play spills over to Gilas in Riga

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Chris Newsome–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco could not be any prouder of the way Chris Newsome performed for Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

And the Bolts can only look forward to how Newsome will carry himself when he resumes club duties in the next month for the season-opening Governors’ Cup, granting he does re-sign with Meralco.

“We are very proud of New,” coach Luigi Trillo told the Inquirer after Newsome and Gilas’ Cinderella run came to an end with a semifinal loss to Brazil in the Latvia side of the Paris Olympics qualifier.

Newsome came into the OQT on a high after his baseline jumper in Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals propelled Meralco to its first-ever PBA championship at the expense of San Miguel Beer and Gilas teammates June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez.

The PBA Press Corps Finals MVP averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in three games in the OQT, where Gilas defeated host Latvia to eventually seal a semis berth despite a narrow loss to Georgia.

In two matches of group play, Newsome posted 10 points and four rebounds against Latvia and 13 points, four rebounds and six assists opposite Georgia.

He had five points, two rebounds, one assist and three steals in the semis against Brazil, but Gilas sputtered with just six points in the third quarter which contributed heavily to the 71-60 loss that crushed the Philippines’ bid for a first Olympic berth since 1972.

“He is a very big part of why our Gilas team did well,” said Trillo, who pointed out that Newsome “really is a leader.

“He is the vocal leader to all the players there. That guy is selfless, knows how to play the right way and is character all around,” said Trillo as the team and Newsome will finalize details of a new pact when he returns.

Gold in Asiad

Newsome belongs to a batch of players that can negotiate with other teams freely, but Al Panlilio, the former Meralco PBA board representative and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president who was with the team in Riga, said “I hope he does,” when the Inquirer asked if their prized guard will stay.

Newsome’s run of form began late last year when he played a key part for coach Tim Cone in Gilas’ successful conquest of the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal.

That carried over to the PBA as Newsome was able to perhaps display his best season since being drafted by Meralco in 2015.



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And with a championship and a good OQT run for club and country, Newsome is having a great year. INQ

Fiba OQT stint signals return of PH as a serious global force

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The Filipinos certainly made heads turn in Latvia. — PHOTOS FROM FIBA.COM

Gilas Pilipinas may have lost its all-important match against Brazil in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia on Saturday, but the National Five, however, can now boast of something Philippine basketball wasn’t able to speak of for decades.

After a masterful conquest of world No. 6 Latvia on its home turf and a pair of plucky stands against the Georgian and Brazilian national sides backstopped by NBA-caliber talent, Gilas Pilipinas—years written off as a doormat on the global stage—proved that it belongs.

“It’s, kinda like a ‘now we know’ moment—[that] ‘Now, we know we can compete,’” national coach Tim Cone said on Saturday night, shortly after the 71-60 loss to the world No. 12 Cariocas who dashed Gilas’ dreams of returning to the Olympic Games in Paris.

Cone—like the millions following Gilas’ bid at home—would’ve wanted his crew to keep writing their improbable surprise story in Riga. But the Nationals had very few answers for the physical play of the enemy who also rediscovered their offensive groove just when the Filipinos lost theirs.

“They played us with a real physical brand of basketball,” he said of the South American powerhouse that advanced to face the Latvians in the finale on Sunday night.

“We were making tough shots in the first half and they were missing a lot of open shots. We knew that if we didn’t turn that around, it was going to get difficult for us in the second half,” Cone went on. “And we continued to [take] tough shots and they weren’t going in anymore. And then they started hitting open shots.

“I think we just kind of panicked a little bit. We started doing a lot of one-on-one, we weren’t moving the ball like we normally do. We just didn’t bring our best.”

Leaving a mark

The botched campaign will sting for a while for Gilas, but there is no denying the inevitable mark left by the squad led by Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, and Chris Newsome.

“Of course, we want to get to the Olympics. It was the ultimate goal,” Newsome said. “But again, this is another stepping stone for us as a program to try to improve and continue to get better. You know, there’s a lot of positives that you can take away from this trip, from this tournament.”

“[I’m] definitely not happy,” said Brownlee. “[I’m] grateful for the opportunity, though. It’s been an honor to come here, to this country, and be able to showcase Filipino basketball and I want to thank Latvia for that.”

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, who was with the contingent throughout the tournament, was among those ecstatic to see how Cone’s intrepid charges fared in its first two outings. Expectedly, he was just as devastated to see the run end on Saturday.

But Panlilio, who knows a thing or two about fighting through adversity having conquered cancer himself, knows that Gilas’ latest setback could very well be a fortuitous setup for a comeback.

“Like in anything—like in life and the corporate world—you learn from adversity and hopefully come out stronger and better moving forward,” he told the Inquirer.

“We understood the goal and set our sights on it—making the Paris Olympics if we can. [The] longer term is to compete in the Fiba Asia Cup, come out as the top team, qualify for the World Cup in 2027, and be the best Asian team that also qualifies us to [the Los Angeles] Olympics.



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“It’s a long-term plan we have embarked on. But each tournament is a building block to the next,” he added. INQ

LeBron James says gold is all that matters at Paris Olympics

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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers responds to a question from a reporter during training camp for the United States men’s basketball team Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

LAS VEGAS — He first played on the U.S. Olympic team as a 19-year-old. He did it again in his 20s, twice. And now, a few months from turning 40, he’s back for one more run.

LeBron James didn’t need another Olympic experience to complete some missing box on his resume or add to a legacy that was secured long, long ago. He decided to play this summer for one simple reason — because he wants to.

Taking his first steps toward becoming the first U.S. men’s basketball player to compete at the Olympics in three different decades, James hit the floor Saturday with the team that the Americans are sending to the Paris Games later this month. Training camp opened in Las Vegas, the start of a 5 1/2-week quest where the only acceptable ending will be the U.S. winning gold for a fifth consecutive time.

READ: NBA: LeBron James agrees to 2-year extension with Lakers

“I’m still playing a high level,” James, a three-time Olympic medalist — two golds and one bronze — said Saturday after the first workout. “I still love the game of basketball. And Team USA has done well by me, so I felt like it was important for this summer to be able to go out there and play with the rest of the guys.”

The first practice came on a day of another first for the James family; the workout in Las Vegas was simultaneous to the Los Angeles Lakers’ first game in the California Classic summer league — the pro debut of Bronny James, the son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.

It would have been very easy for James to ask for Day 1 off, to go see his son’s debut. It was never a consideration. He took the floor shortly after the buses rolled in, slapping hands with teammates, throwing down dunks and reconnecting with two of his former coaches — Erik Spoelstra and Tyronn Lue, both of whom won NBA titles with James on their squads.

“I was blown away by how hard he practices,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “I went to Ty and Spo, and I said, ‘Is this normal?’ And they said, ‘Every day, every day.’ And then I said to Spo, ‘What about way back when you got him?’ And Spo said, ‘Every day, every drill, every walkthrough.’”

Kerr has coached against James in four NBA Finals, all of which featured Golden State guard Stephen Curry — who plays for Kerr with the Warriors and is making his Olympic debut this summer.

And it’s fair to say that teaming up was part of what intrigued James and Curry when it was time to decide whether to play in Paris or not.

READ: LeBron, Steph Curry ‘excited’ to join forces for Paris Olympics

“I’ve talked to both of them about this idea of being together after going against one another with such high stakes over the years,” Kerr said. “They obviously fit really well together. The idea of Steph playing off the ball, and LeBron pushing it in transition, that’s pretty intriguing. Obviously, Steph will play on the ball as well. And LeBron has become such a good shooter, but they’re both so good at so many different areas of the game. I think they’re really excited to compete together for the first time”

James was part of the U.S. teams that won bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2006 world championships (now called the World Cup) in Japan. And ever since then, the Americans have gone unbeaten when James is wearing USA across his chest in international play.

Starting with the bronze medal game in Japan 18 years ago, the U.S. has played 36 games — 10 at the FIBA Americas tournament in 2007, then four exhibitions before and eight games at the 2008 Beijing Games, then five more exhibitions and eight games at the 2012 London Games — with James in uniform. The record: 36-0. He hopes it’s 47-0 when this summer’s run ends.

“I’m here to have a good summer,” James said.

Even after not playing in Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo, James will be participating in his fourth Olympics — tying the record for the most by any U.S. men’s player. Only Carmelo Anthony has played in four Olympics for the U.S. men to this point; Kevin Durant will play in his fourth this summer as well.

That’s a nice side note, but not the thing James is thinking about these days.



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“Our only goal,” he said, “is to win a gold medal.”

Looking lot like dad, Bronny James makes NBA Summer League debut

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James dribbles during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in San Francisco, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

SAN FRANCISCO — Once that second-quarter layup went in and he finally had his first NBA points after a trio of misses, Bronny James could exhale and everything began to slow down.

He hardly expects to be perfect at this early stage of his professional career, and every touch and possession will provide an opportunity for growth and learning.

He sure felt the love and support Saturday, even playing in the Bay Area ruled by Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

“The atmosphere, it was more than I expected,” a grinning James said. “It’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know the people of Golden State would come and rep for me, so that was pretty nice to see.”

READ: NBA: Bronny James says he can handle playing with dad, Lakers

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut Saturday, the rookie looked so much like his famous father, LeBron, it caused some at Chase Center to do a double-take.

Down to their familiar mannerisms, facial expressions and the way they run or shuffle back on defense. Bronny James took his place in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers and his professional career was formally underway, with plenty of scouts in the building to witness it as he wore jersey No. 9 — not to be confused with his dad’s former 6 uniform he sported before switching to 23.

“Every first game that I step on the next level there’s always some butterflies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”

The younger James wound up 2 for 9 for four points, missing all three of his 3s, with a pair of assists, two rebounds and a steal in just under 22 minutes of court time — 21:43 to be exact — as the Lakers lost 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his first action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game then missing a 21-foot jump shot moments later. He came up short on a 26-foot 3-point try at the 4:23 mark of the opening quarter before getting a breather.

READ: NBA: Bronny James ready for pressure after ‘surreal’ Lakers move

There were cheers and a warm ovation when James returned to the court at the 8:17 mark of the second quarter. He was initially whistled for his first career foul on a 3-point attempt by Sacramento’s Xavier Sneed on the right wing with 7:23 remaining, and James argued briefly before the play went to replay review and was overturned. James missed a 3 off the front rim from the top of the arc at 7:04.

Then, at last, James scored his first NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

“Moments like that can slow the game down for you especially because I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to beforehand,” he said. “… I couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but all the reps it’s going to come more smooth.”

James missed a pair of free throws at the 4:43 mark of the third period in his first trip to the line.

At one point during his warmup routine, the 6-foot-2 guard stood with hands on hips in a resemblant position to one of his father. And during the game, the son leaned over by the baseline 3-point corner, gripping his knees while waiting for the offensive possession to begin.

READ: Bronny James, LeBron’s son, picked by Lakers in NBA Draft

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th overall selection in the second round out of the University of Southern California.

He will get another chance to play Sunday, when the Lakers face the Warriors, again at the Chase Center. Coach Dane Johnson plans to give James plenty of chances to acclimate and gain valuable experience in the coming days and weeks.

“Hopefully he’ll play all the games, we’ll see how it goes,” Johnson said. “We’re going to try to integrate him and get him as many reps as we can. He needs more experience playing.”

Johnson applauded James’ keen court awareness, noting, “we all know he has good instincts already, so finding the consistency within those he’ll build as we keep going forward in the summer league and throughout the coming season. His instincts are there, we’ve just got to keep building habits.”

If all goes as planned, the 19-year-old James and his dad would become the first father-son pair to play in the NBA at the same time — and on the same team no less.

READ: Bronny James grateful as NBA dream in reach after health scare

“What he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well,” LeBron James said at USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas. “I just want him to continue to grow, practices, film sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything as far as stat wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”

Bronny is NBA career scoring leader LeBron’s oldest son. He survived cardiac arrest last July 24 during an informal team workout at USC and it was later determined he had a congenital heart defect. The younger James signed a four-year contract that will pay him $7.9 million.



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He will remind himself along the way to stay aggressive and “believe in myself knowing I can make plays for myself and my teammates.”

“Looking at my mistakes and looking at the things I did right is really good for me,” James said. “But also just game by game growing that comfort in my playing my game, I feel like that’s a big part of why I come out here and get those reps in.”

Czechia wins Challenger Cup, earns VNL spot with near-perfect run

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Czechia is crowned FIVB Challenger Cup champion.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Czechia topped Puerto Rico, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18, to reign supreme in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Opposite hitter Gabriela Orvosova hammered out 25 points on 23 hits and two blocks as Czechia also booked a coveted promotion ticket to the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

Team captain Michaela Mlejnkova added 18 points while Helena Havelkova and Magdalena Jehlarova chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Czech spikers, who needed only one hour and 48 minutes to win the knockout finale.

READ: Czechia sets up Challenger Cup final vs Puerto Rico for VNL spot

Now world No. 15, Czechia zoomed to a 2-0 start and fended off any resistance left from world No. 16 Puerto Rico in the fourth set.

“It’s unbelievable. We’re so happy and proud of our team. I’m speechless,” beamed Orvosova.

Czechia FIVB Challenger Cup champion

Czechia players celebrate after beating Puerto Rico in the FIVB Challenger Cup Final in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“It’s time to celebrate our success. I believe in this tournament, we’re the better team and we deserve to win but the VNL is another level,” added Greek head coach Ioannis Athanasopoulos.

It was a near-perfect Manila conquest for Czechia, which only dropped one set the entire tournament.

READ: Alas tormentor Vietnam bags bronze in FIVB Challenger Cup

Czechia pummeled world No. 17 Argentina, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, in the quarterfinals then trounced now world No. 32 Vietnam in the semis, 25-19, 25-14, 25-19, of the VNL qualifier.

Grace Mar Lopez Villanueva and Paola Nicole Santiago Cabrera put up 23 and 18 points, respectively, while Stephanie Rivera tallied 12 points for the Puerto Ricans.

“Fans here are unbelievable right from first moment we arrived at the airport. Volleyball is huge over here and I didn’t know that. It’s a great experience for our team. From the entire Czech national team, we’re really thankful,” said Athanasopoulos.

Earlier, Vietnam stunned world No. 12 Belgium, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, to salvage the bronze medal behind the 35-point eruption on 34 hits by ace hitter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen.



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Romualdez praises Gilas Pilipinas after Fiba OQT campaign

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Gilas Pilipinas ends its Fiba OQT run and dreams of making it to the Paris Olympics with a loss to Brazil in the semifinals. –FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed admiration for Gilas Pilipinas for demonstrating “unparalleled determination, skill and heart” despite losing to Brazil in the semifinals of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia.

“The journey of Gilas Pilipinas in this tournament has been nothing short of inspirational. Their victory against Latvia, a European team, was a historic moment for Philippine basketball and a testament to the team’s resilience and capability,” Romualdez said in a statement on Sunday.

READ: Marcos proud of Gilas despite loss to Brazil

“Although our bid for the Olympics ended, our players have proven their mettle by going toe-to-toe with world-class athletes and making every Filipino proud,” he added.

Gilas Pilipinas’ dream of reaching the Paris Olympics ended after a 71-60 loss to world No. 12 Brazil in the semifinals of the Fiba OQT.

Romualdez also commended Gilas coach Tim Cone and his coaching staff “for their exemplary leadership and dedication.”

READ: Tim Cone on Gilas’ Fiba OQT campaign: Now we know we can compete

“Their guidance and strategies have been pivotal in the team’s performance, bringing out the best in our players and instilling a sense of pride and confidence. The discipline and hard work that went into each game are truly commendable,” the lawmaker said.

“To the players of Gilas Pilipinas, your courage, sportsmanship, and passion have inspired countless Filipinos. You have shown heart and determination. Your journey has sparked a renewed sense of hope and pride in our nation, and for that, we are eternally grateful,” he added.

Aside from Romualdez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also congratulated the team.

“It was a great fight, Gilas Pilipinas! You have made us Filipinos proud and made history! We will always stand behind you in support. Bida ang bayaning manlalaro! ” Marcos said in a social media post.



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One-armed wonder Necky Tortosa chases JPGT finals slot

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Necky Tortosa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Growing up in Santa Barbara, Iloilo, Necky Tortosa found herself naturally gravitating towards golf. It’s no surprise given that her hometown is not only host to the country’s first golf club but also boasts the oldest existing golf course in Southeast Asia.

However, unlike many of her peers who might have chosen football, Tortosa fell in love with the sport of golf from a young age.

What sets Tortosa apart from other golfers is not just her passion for the game, but her remarkable story of overcoming a significant physical challenge.

READ: Sarines siblings sweep JPGT 11-14 crowns at Pinewoods

Born with only one arm, Tortosa has never let this handicap deter her from pursuing her love for golf. Instead, she embraced the sport with unwavering determination, competing fiercely against able-bodied golfers.

A senior at Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School, Tortosa’s journey is one of resilience and inspiration. She has expressed her determination and excitement about participating in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour, aiming to earn a spot in the national Match Play finals.

“I really wanted to play golf. Kahit ganito ako, kaya ko pa din maglaro (Even with my disability, I know that I can still play). I was really excited when I learned that the JPGT will hold a tournament in Iloilo. So, I trained and practiced hard,” said Tortosa.

Necky Tortosa golf

Necky Tortosa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Her hard work paid off as she set a strong pace in the early stages of the 72-hole tournament in Iloilo, igniting hopes for a heartwarming success story. However, her friend and fellow Santa Barbara native, Rhiena Sinfuego, eventually took control midway through the day – all the way to the finish.

But Tortosa’s runner-up finish in the girls’ 16-18 category did not go unnoticed. Her performance left a significant impact on the tournament, showcasing her guts, determination and resolve.

READ: Lee, Suzuki rule premier JPGT divisions Pradera Verde

She wound up fourth in the Visayas Series 2 in Murcia, Binitin then posted another runner-up finish in Negros Occidental.

Despite yielding the two Match Play slots to Dominique Gotiong and Sinfuego, Tortosa remains resolute in her pursuit of competing in the national finals. Supported by well-meaning sponsors, she has registered for the Luzon Series 4, which gets going tomorrow (Tuesday, July 9) at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite.

Tortosa will add excitement to the premier division, which features a competitive lineup headed by Pinewoods leg winner Rafa Anciano, Chloe Rada, Gabriela Sison and Casey Frankum.

Tortosa’s journey is not just about her skill on the golf course; it is a testament to her character and spirit. Her faith in God and belief in herself have propelled her to achieve remarkable feats, inspiring many along the way.



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Her story serves as a powerful reminder that true strength lies in the heart and mind and her unwavering commitment to her passion, despite the odds, makes her not only a remarkable athlete but also an inspirational figure in the world of sports.

Gilas boys finish last in Fiba U17 World Cup

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Australia’s Dash Daniels, middle, tries to score against Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba U17 World Cup in Turkey.–FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas boys wound up in last place after a dreadful campaign in the Fiba Under-17 World Cup.

Gilas placed 16th following a 115-53 beating at the hands of Australia in the classification match on Sunday (Manila time) at Ahmet Comert Sports Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.

The young Nationals scored the game’s first points but the match quickly went away from them, trailing 31-16, after the opening period.

READ: Gilas boys lose to USA by 96, bow out of Fiba U17 World Cup

Gilas, which was coming off a 19-point loss to China on Saturday, never recovered and saw the deficit balloon to as many as 62 points. The Filipinos shot just 30 percent from the field, including 5-of-34 from long distance.

Edryn Morales posted 17 points and nine rebounds for Gilas, which sorely missed the services of its main man Kieffer Alas. Alas was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

Dash Daniels paced the Australians with 28 points, four rebounds and four assists while Nash Walker contributed 18 points.

Australia, which shot 59 percent from the field and knocked down 16 3-pointers, also drew a near-double-double effort from Joel Robinson, who tallied 11 points and nine boards.

It marked the first time Gilas finished dead last at 16th in the U17 World Cup since its qualification in 2014. The Philippines finished 15th in 2014 and 13th in 2018.



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Giannis, Greece beat Doncic-led Slovenia to reach final

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Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, rear, hugs Slovenia’s Luka Doncic ahead of a basketball match, during the Acropolis basketball tournament at the Peace and Friendship indoor stadium at Athens’ port city of Piraeus, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannak ouris)

An Olympics berth has eluded Giannis Antetokounmpo so far during his basketball career. He’s one more victory away from changing that.

Thomas Walkup had 19 points, Antetokounmpo added 13 points in 21 minutes and Greece moved one victory from the Paris Games, eliminating Luka Doncic and Slovenia 96-68 on Saturday from the semifinals of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

“Since coach (Vassilis) Spanoulis took this whole deal over, it’s been one goal and that’s to get to the Olympics,” Walkup said. “We’re one game away from it. We have to stay humble and focused.”

READ: Fiba OQT: Luka’s Slovenia, Giannis’ Greece meet in KO duel

Doncic finished with 21 points in the game in Piraeus, Greece, which marked first time the two NBA megastars faced one another while representing their senior national teams.

“They played way better than us. They were way more aggressive,” Doncic said. “I think they have an amazing team. Obviously, they have Giannis. But other pieces are very important for them, too. And they’re very well-coached. … They outplayed us today.”

The matchup was one of eight semifinals taking place to determine the last four berths in the men’s basketball field for the Paris Games.

Vasileios Toliopoulos added 14 points for Greece, which will meet Croatia on Sunday in the final of the Greece tournament, with the Paris Olympics berth going to the winner.

Other semifinal games took place Saturday at tournaments in Spain, Latvia and Puerto Rico.

Doncic, who played through injuries in the NBA Finals for the Dallas Mavericks in their five-game loss to the Boston Celtics, averaged 31 points in Slovenia’s first two qualifying games. But he came out flat on Saturday against Greece’s big front line.

READ: Antetokounmpo, Doncic shoot for last shot at Paris Olympics

Slovenia was put on its heels early, as Greece scored the game’s first 13 points and took a 32-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Greece’s advantage grew as high as 23 points in the second quarter before Slovenia used a late flurry to cut it to 47-33 at the half.

Greece came out fast again in the third, using a 11-3 run to get some distance and carried a 16-point edge into the fourth quarter.

Slovenia shot just 43% (23 of 54) from the field for the game. That compared to 54% (34 of 70) for Greece, which also held a 38-25 rebounding edge.

Croatia 80, Dominican Republic 77

Ivica Zubac went 10 of 10 from the field and finished with 25 points and nine rebounds to help Croatia outlast the Dominican Republic in Greece’s second semifinals of the day.

Dario Saric and Jaleen Smith added 14 points apiece to put Croatia into Sunday’s final with Greece for a chance at making back to the Olympics for the first time since 2016.

Christopher Duarte finished with 17 points to lead the Dominican Republic.

The game featured 13 ties and six lead changes and was in doubt heading into the final seconds.

Trailing 78-74, the Dominican Republic’s Jean Montero got a steal and was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left by Croatia’s Smith.

Montero converted all three ensuing free throws to cut the deficit to a point.

The Dominican Republic quickly fouled Mario Hezonja, who connected on both of his ensuing free throws.

Duarte got a good look at a 3 at the buzzer, but his shot rimmed out.

Brazil 71, Philippines 60

In Riga, Latvia, Bruno Caboclo had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Brazil defeated the Philippines 71-60 to advance to the finals of that tournament.

Marcelinho Huertas added 13 points to help Brazil keep alive hopes of playing in its first Olympics since 2016.

The Brazilians will meet Latvia on Sunday in the finals of that tournament.

READ: Gilas’ Olympic dream ends, bows out of Fiba OQT with loss to Brazil

Justin Brownlee finished with 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Philippines, which shot just 38% from the field (24 of 64) for the game and had 15 turnovers.

The Philippines led 33-27 at halftime before Brazil opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run. It was part of a 24-6 quarter for Brazil, which took a 51-39 lead into the fourth.

It was more the same in the final period. The Philippines got as close as 53-46, before Brazil responded with an 8-0 run to help put the game away.

Latvia 72, Cameroon 59

In the second semifinal in Riga, Rihards Lomazs scored 20 points and Latvia withstood several late pushes to hold off Cameroon 72-59.

Rolands Smits added 13 points to help Latvia advance to Sunday’s final against Brazil, where it will be looking to earn its first Olympics appearance since 1936.

Latvia carried a 53-50 lead into the fourth quarter and started the final period with a 9-0 run.

Cameroon got within 65-59 with 2:14 remaining on a layup by Brice Eyaga Bidias. But Latvia was able to close the game out at the free throw line.

Williams Narace led Cameroon with 14 points.

Bahamas 89, Lebanon 72

In Valencia, Spain, Deandre Ayton had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Bahamas past Lebanon 89-72.

Buddy Hield chipped in 19 points and 10 assists to help the Bahamas move within a win of making its first Olympics field. It will meet Spain in Sunday’s final.

The Bahamas led by as many as 20 in the first half.

Lebanon whittled that deficit down to 75-68 in the fourth quarter. But the Bahamas outscored Lebanon 14-4 over the final 3:50.

Sergio El Darwich led Lebanon with 22 points.

Spain 81, Finland 74

Willy Hernangomez scored 28 points and Spain rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Finland 81-74 in Valencia’s second semifinal of the day.

Lorenzo Brown and Santiago Aldama added 15 points apiece to send Spain into Sunday’s final against the Bahamas. Spain will be seeking a seventh consecutive Olympic berth.

Andre Gustavson had 15 points for Finland, which hasn’t gotten to the Olympics since 1964.

There were three lead changes during a furious final 10 minutes.

Finland carried a 59-56 lead into the period and took its final lead at 66-64 on a 3-pointer by Elias Valtonen. But Spain outscored Finland 18-8 the rest of way.

Lithuania 88, Italy 64

Marius Grigonis scored 23 points, including six 3-pointers, the help Lithuania ease past Italy 88-64 and to advance to the finals of the San Juan, Puerto Rico tournament.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 14 points to keep Lithuania on track to qualify for its first Olympic tournament since 2016. It will meet Puerto Rico on Sunday.

Lithuania blew the game open with a 21-4 run that began in the second quarter and lasted into the third as it opened a 59-40 lead.

Danilo Gallinari led Italy with 15 points.

Puerto Rico 98, Mexico 78

Tremont Watter had 24 points to help host Puerto Rico roll into Sunday’s final with a 98-78 win over Mexico.



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Jordan Howard finished with 20 to give Puerto Rico a spot in Sunday’s final against Lithuania. Puerto Rico will be attempting to qualify for its first Olympics since 2004.

Seven of the last eight games between the teams had been decided by 10 points or less. It was tight again on Saturday before Puerto Rico pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Fabian Jaimes led Mexico with 20 points.