2024 Paris Olympics Basketball | IBN PH Discussion Thread

[Dotch]

Battle of the Old Ladies:

GOAT Diana Taurasi is only 1 year younger than Lauren at 42 y.o. Also at her 5th Olympics

66900132da889.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500.jpg

[CoJ]

Group B is composed of France, Germany, Brazil and Japan.

feels like a WW2 reunion (minus Italy)

[Giannis34GOD]

Which people? Them content creators and comments section warriors of peysbuk? Can't blame them, Japan earned it.

Does it make Japan better? Of course not, but given the parity of FIBA basketball with how World Cup results influence Olympic spots, it's really a by-product of their professional culture than it is their actual level. They beat Venezuela (which had to go through Argentina and the Bahamas in WC qualifying), Finland (who placed 2nd in their qualifying group with Germany and Slovenia), and Cape Verde (who knocked out perennial Olympians Nigeria in WC qualifying)... without Hachimura.

If it's a talent thing, let's go back to the old Continental Cup system where a single tournament every 2 years tells if an Asian country is good enough to get blown out in the Olympics/World Cup where it's assumed all the best players will play. In the grand scheme of things, Olympic berths now are rewards for countries who were consistent in the previous FIBA Calendar by making the World Cup on their own merit and performing well in it:

Germany: 10-2 in WC qualifying and 1st in their group, won the World Cup
Serbia: 6-4 in WC qualifying (lost to Belgium and Greece) managed to get 2nd in their group behind Latvia, World Cup runners up without Jokic
Canada: 11-1 in WC qualifying, World Cup Bronze medalists (only lost to Brazil and Serbia)
USA: 9-3 in WC qualifying with G-League players, the second best FIBA Americas team in the World Cup using young NBA players.
Australia: it was going to be either them or New Zealand despite both playing in FIBA Asia, but Australia made it out of their group
South Sudan: 11-1 in WC qualifying, didn't make it of their group but had a better W-L than Egypt in the World Cup
France: Olympic hosts, 10-2 in qualifying but didn't make it out of their World Cup group
Japan: WC co-hosts but still went 7-5 grouped with Australia and China, even lost to Iran in qualifying... but made it out of their WC group.

As for the 4 OQT winners Spain, Greece, Brazil, and Puerto Rico... all of them actually qualified for the World Cup last year, didn't have to go through OQT pre-qualifying like Croatia, Bahamas, or Bahrain, and had no excuses for not having their best players unavailable because of qualifying windows coinciding with whatever pro league season on-going.

Where does Gilas fit in all of this? For a team that's just been formed last Feb, they've made quite a few changes knowing they insist of keeping this group together for the next 4 years. Japan's Olympic team actually looks like a team that will still be together in 4 years. Same with China. I get the win-now scenario... but that will only get them to the FIBA Asia Cup and maybe another SEA Games Gold, but the next World Cup? the next Olympics? Is it too much to ask for the younger players except Kai to get bigger roles? It's probably a PBA thing where anyone under 24 is treated like a child.

If FIBA still stick to this cycle, I hope they should change some requirements regarding to qualifications... I think FIBA should take top 7 teams last world cup (exclude the Olympic host) then the last 4 spots should be held by continental zones (just like Football Olympic format)... Having classifications in world cup to determine who will qualified among Asians and Africans for Olympics is not fair.. some teams who are out after first round outside Asians and Africans are no bearing already to them and they will not take that one seriously... When Japan face Venezuela, the latter is already out, they don't have eagerness to play in classifications because they don't have a chance already, while Japan has legit chance to qualify via Asian zone.. having classifications after 1st round of world cups is already non sense... Better take it thru Asian zone classifications where Asian teams will fight for one spot at Olympics...

[Giannis34GOD]

Japan hype, people are willing to suck Japanese dick just to make Gilas look bad, everything about Japan now is well hype not just its national basketball team, basketball league, but also its boxing

They were overhyped... They don't have achievements winning medals in Asian scene.. Japan didn't make even in the semifinals in past 4 Asian tournaments such as Asian games and FIBA Asia cup.. the last two FIBA Asia cups of Japan are disappointing, 2017 they are 9th while 8th in 2022.. They are also not good in Asian Games tourneys, although they just send their B squad but who cares, it's still recorded.. They even lose to Iran w/ old Haddadi in 2022 while they also lose even with Saudi Arabia in 2023 Asian games... They haven't proved yet in Asian scene... That qualification for Olympics for Japan were just lucky because of good draw...

[Dotch]

Let's discuss PHL's participation in this year's Olympics in Paris

Official Philippine Delegation

• Boxing
  • Carlo Paalam
  • Eumir Marcial
  • Aira Villegas
  • Nesthy Petecio
  • Hergie Bacyadan

• Artistic gymnastics
  • Carlos Yulo
  • Aleah Finnegan
  • Levi Ruivivar
  • Emma Malabuyo

• Athletics
  • Ernest John Obiena
  • Lauren Hoffman
  • John Cabang Tolentino

• Weightlifting
  • John Ceniza
  • Elreen Ando
  • Vanessa Sarno

• Golf
  • Bianca Pagdanganan
  • Dottie Ardina

• Swimming
  • Jarod Hatch
  • Kayla Sanchez

• Fencing
  • Samantha Catantan

• Judo
  • Kiyomi Watanabe

• Rowing
  • Joanie Delgaco

[Dotch]

One of Philippines best medal hopes, is Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena.

In the Olympic cycle leading to this year's edition in Paris, EJ is only second to the pole vault GOAT Mondo Duplantis in terms of achievements. But he tends to disappear in major events or performs poorly. Recently he only placed 4th in the field that includes Mondo and the 2 American Olympic vaulters. Bad sign.

But let's hope, he will deliver PHL's first Track and Field Medal in 88 years.

Outlook: Silver, but anything can happen. Mondo can no-height his attempts, opening the field.

ej-obiena-world-championship-september-2023.jpg?resize=1200%2C736&zoom=1.jpg

[Giannis34GOD]

Even with the twin towers of France, they are no match against the Joker and Serbia... Serbia is a very good team, they won the silver medal last year w/o Jokic.. but the heart and soul of this Serbian team is Bogdan Bogdanovic...

[greenarcher]

Serbia 79 France 67 even with Wemby

[paolylo]

One of Philippines best medal hopes, is Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena.

In the Olympic cycle leading to this year's edition in Paris, EJ is only second to the pole vault GOAT Mondo Duplantis in terms of achievements. But he tends to disappear in major events or performs poorly. Recently he only placed 4th in the field that includes Mondo and the 2 American Olympic vaulters. Bad sign.

But let's hope, he will deliver PHL's first Track and Field Medal in 88 years.

Outlook: Silver, but anything can happen. Mondo can no-height his attempts, opening the field.

ej-obiena-world-championship-september-2023.jpg?resize=1200%2C736&zoom=1.jpg

Track/field events are all about consistency and peaking at the right time. My worry is that Obiena already peaked in 2022 and culminated it with a PB last year and is still placing IAAF events without much competition. Name any other pole vaulter without googling them and I bet people only know him and Duplantis. There are 5 other guys all under Obiena's season's best capable of coming out of nowhere and snatching silver and bronze... but if everything remains constant, Obiena is a sure silver.

Speaking of peaking, Carlos Yulo actually hit his peak as an overall gymnast in Tokyo... but managed to make a comeback and qualify for Paris. Maybe he pulls off a Hidilyn and takes gold.

*edit
Kayla Sanchez is a World Champion relay swimmer for Canada... but now she's competing individual events for us. Not a medal hopeful by far, but reaching the semis or even the finals will be huge.

[Giannis34GOD]

Track/field events are all about consistency and peaking at the right time. My worry is that Obiena already peaked in 2022 and culminated it with a PB last year and is still placing IAAF events without much competition. Name any other pole vaulter without googling them and I bet people only know him and Duplantis. There are 5 other guys all under Obiena's season's best capable of coming out of nowhere and snatching silver and bronze... but if everything remains constant, Obiena is a sure silver.

Speaking of peaking, Carlos Yulo actually hit his peak as an overall gymnast in Tokyo... but managed to make a comeback and qualify for Paris. Maybe he pulls off a Hidilyn and takes gold.

*edit
Kayla Sanchez is a World Champion relay swimmer for Canada... but now she's competing individual events for us. Not a medal hopeful by far, but reaching the semis or even the finals will be huge.

Our boxers will have also chance to win medals too... Marcial, Petecio, etc... is on ripe now to win medals, especially the gold medal that they not take last edition...

[Dotch]

Our boxers will have also chance to win medals too... Marcial, Petecio, etc... is on ripe now to win medals, especially the gold medal that they not take last edition...

Eumir Marcial is on a disadvantage because he has to climb up one weight division higher to light-heavyweight. He's a natural middleweight but the Olympic committee scrapped that division to lessen the boxing events. IOC took control of the boxing events since Tokyo 2021 because of the corruption plaguing the international boxing confederation.

Light-Heavyweight is top heavy with boxers who are naturally bigger than him. WE can only hope he can still pack a punch and show his skills enough dominate that class.

Eumir_Marcial_2020_Tokyo_Olympics_2023_10_05_15_16_15.jpg

[JOI2dWorld]

the disrespect to Puerto Rico and South Sudan in power rankings being ranked below Japan at 11 and 12 respectively

[Giannis34GOD]

Eumir Marcial is on a disadvantage because he has to climb up one weight division higher to light-heavyweight. He's a natural middleweight but the Olympic committee scrapped that division to lessen the boxing events. IOC took control of the boxing events since Tokyo 2021 because of the corruption plaguing the international boxing confederation.

Light-Heavyweight is top heavy with boxers who are naturally bigger than him. WE can only hope he can still pack a punch and show his skills enough dominate that class.

Eumir_Marcial_2020_Tokyo_Olympics_2023_10_05_15_16_15.jpg

Well, Marcial already have experience playing professional level and he played against bigger than him there.. I still like his chances.. he could be the gold medalist last Asian games if not for hometown decision favoring Chinese...

[Giannis34GOD]

the disrespect to Puerto Rico and South Sudan in power rankings being ranked below Japan at 11 and 12 respectively

FIBA power rankings have 2 criterias, past FIBA performance and intact line up that includes NBA players... Last OQT power rankings we were at 20th place, we were disrespect too, but we beat the odds beating Latvia.. on paper, Japan is slightly better than Puerto Rico and SSD but I'm sure Puerto Rico and SSD will beat Japan because of size advantage.. Japan will be bullied at the tournament proper...

[ja.he]

FIBA power rankings have 2 criterias, past FIBA performance and intact line up that includes NBA players... Last OQT power rankings we were at 20th place, we were disrespect too, but we beat the odds beating Latvia.. on paper, Japan is slightly better than Puerto Rico and SSD but I'm sure Puerto Rico and SSD will beat Japan because of size advantage.. Japan will be bullied at the tournament proper...

Puerto Rico and South Sudan have superior size, superior athleticism, and overall superior talent over Japan. Add to that, most of them are playing overseas and have import quality.