Brazil’s men’s basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat the Philippines 71-60 in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) semifinal in Latvia on Saturday, July 6th, securing a chance at a Paris 2024 berth.
Bruno Caboclo was instrumental in the victory, contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcelinho Huertas also delivered a standout performance.
Brazil will face hosts Latvia in Sunday’s final in Riga, aiming to secure their first Olympic spot since the Rio 2016 games.
Brazil started strong with a 5-0 lead, but the Gilas Pilipinas, despite missing Kai Sotto due to a rib injury, found their rhythm and took the lead. The Philippines built on this momentum, leading by eight points (18-10) in the first quarter, with Dwight Ramos scoring 11 points. The underdogs ended the first period with a 10-point advantage (22-12) over the three-time Olympic bronze medalists.
