THE dream run to Paris wasn't mean to be as Gilas Pilipinas bowed out of Olympic contention at the hands of a resurgent Brazil side, 60-71, in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Fiba OQT) semifinals on Saturday evening in Riga, Latvia (Philippine time).
Up by as many as 12 in the first half, the game swung the opposite way as Brazil fired an 18-0 third quarter start which proved which proved to be the backbreaker — dashing Gilas' hopes of ending a five-decade Olympic drought.
Denting Gilas' chances even more was Kai Sotto's on-court absence following a hit to the rib in their pool play finale loss to Georgia on Thursday.
As Gilas bade its Paris ticket goodbye, here's how fans reacted to a crushing exit and a valiant stand against some of the world's best in the Fiba OQT:
End of the road
Bigtime Brazil fightback
What could’ve been with Kai
Progress, still
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