ALLAN THE MAN

Watch  the Top 10 Plays for the recently concluded 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. Here they are, the 10 most spectacular plays of the Asia Championships 2015, featuring Andray Blatche (Philippines), Qi Zhou (China), Jasmon Youngblood (Lebanon), Hamed Ehadadi (Iran), Chih Chieh Lin (Chinese Taipei), Terrence Romeo (Philippines), Jianlian Yi (China) and Matthew Ganuelas (Philippines).

Three out of Top Ten plays came from Gilas Pilipinas National team.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team fell short of earning an automatic ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing to China in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship final on Saturday in Changsha, China.

But Gilas Pilipinas’ Olympic dream is still alive, although the squad faces a more difficult road to bring the country back to its first Olympic appearance in 44 years.

The Gilas Pilipinas, Philippine national men’s basketball team put up a gallant fight but China was just too much overcome as the hosts pulled out a 78-67 victory to capture the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship gold medal Saturday at College of Social Work Dayun in Changsha, China.

[[ WATCH GILAS PILIPINAS vs CHINA FINALS FULL GAME REPLAY VIDEO. 
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Naturalized player Andray Blatche top-scored for Gilas Pilipinas with 17 points and five boards, but he never found his groove against the Chinese defense.

The Gilas Pilipinas, Philippine national men’s basketball team got pushed to the limit once again by Japan but still remained victorious in their semifinal encounter, 81-70, as Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship finals Friday at College of Social Work Dayun in Changsha, China.

FINALS (October 3)

BATTLE FOR 3RD - 6:00 PM - Iran vs Japan

CHAMPIONSHIP: 8:30 PM - Philippines vs China

Gilas Pilipinas is moving on to the finals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. That became the case after the men’s national basketball team took down Japan in the semifinals, 81-70, on Friday, October 2, at the CSWC Dayun in Changsha, China.

In the gold medal match on Saturday, October 3, the Philippines will take on hometown team China, who beat Iran in the semis, with a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics on the line.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team got pushed to the limit once again by Japan but still remained victorious in their semifinal encounter ,81-70, as Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship finals Friday at College of Social Work Dayun in Changsha, China.

Dondon Hontiveros had his best game in the tournament, scoring 18 points on six triples, including the dagger one late in the game that kept the resilient Japanese at bay.

China flashed its killer form in dethroning erstwhile champion Iran, 70-57, as the hosts moved on to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship finals Friday night at College of Social Work Dayun in Changsha.

Former NBA player Yi Jianlian once again paced China with 13 points and eight boards while team captain Peng Zhou added 12 markers for the hosts that remain unbeaten in the tournament.

In last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Philippine national men’s basketball team forward Gabe Norwood made one of the most memorable plays – posterizing Argentina’s Luis Scola to land No. 3 on FIBA’s best plays list.

The athletic swingman isn’t quite done growing his personal FIBA highlight reel just yet.

2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP: Following his consistent and superb showing all throughout the tournament, Philippine national men’s basketball team star guard Jayson Castro is currently in the running to win the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship MVP award.

“The Blur,” who was named to the Mythical Five in the 2013 edition of the tournament, earning him the accolade as the best point guard in Asia, is currently averaging 17.4 points, three rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 56.3 percent.

2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP: Gilas Pilipinas is now in the semifinals where they will face Japan. The Filipinos are also already assured of a spot in the Olympic wildcard tournament next year if ever they fail to win the FIBA Asia crown which comes with an outright spot in the prestigious competition in Brazil next year.

WATCH PHILIPPINES vs JAPAN SEMIFINALS LIVE STREAM BELOW:

Gilas Pilipinas overcame Lebanon in the quarterfinals, 82-70, to move on to the semifinals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Thursday, October 1 in Changsha, Hunan, China.

With the win, the Philippines completes the semifinals cast and will clash with second round foe Japan, while the other semis pairing is between defending champion Iran and host China. Gilas will attempt to defeat Japan a second time and make a return trip to the finals on Friday, October 2.

2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP: Reigning champion Iran kept its title defense bid alive after dispatching South Korea, 75-62, in the quarterfinals showdown between two heavyweight teams in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship Thursday at Changsha Social Work College (CSWC) Dayun in Changsha, China.

Iran’s prized big man Hamed Haddadi reigned down low as he finished with 18 points and 14 boards to bring the defending titlists to the semifinals where they could possibly face host China.

2015 FIBA CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINALS ROUND: The Gilas Pilipinas, Philippine national men’s basketball team now enters the most crucial stage of their 2015 FIBA Asia Championship campaign as they take on Lebanon in the quarterfinal round on Thursday at the Changsha Social Work College (CSWC) Dayun here in Hunan, China.

Gilas Pilipinas, which emerged as the No. 1 team in the Group E of the second round of competition, enters the final stretch of their run, where they will see just what this team is made of.

WATCH PHILIPPINES vs LEBANON QUARTERFINALS LIVE STREAM BELOW:

2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP: Gilas Pilipinas bucked a cold start and pulled away in the thid quarter to hand India a 99-65 beating in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Tuesday, September 29 in Changsha, Hunan, China.

The Philippine national men's basketball team swept Group E in second round competition to finish as the top seed with a 4-1 record entering the quarterfinals. Their match-up is yet to be determined depending on the remaining games from Group F later in the day.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team needed to overcome a slow start to dispatch India, 99-65, as Gilas Pilipinas clinched the No.1 seed in Group E of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship Tuesday at CSWC Dayun in Changsha, China.

Terrence Romeo poured in 20 points, three assists and three steals off the bench, while Andray Blatche made 15 markers.

FIBA Asia Championship 2015: Gilas Pilipinas will face much tougher competition when they take on Japan, India and defending champion Iran in the crossover second round – and Gilas coach Tab Baldwin is hopeful that the squad will have little trouble staying motivated and focused after displaying some troubling habits in their opening assignments. 

The Philippines was touted as one of the contenders for this year’s crown, along with Iran and host China.

2015 FIBA Asia Championship: Second Round (Group E). Gilas Pilipinas defeated Iran, 87-73. Jayson William Castro's unstoppable spin move vs Iran (VIDEO).

Jayson Castro shows everyone who is the best point guard in Asia as he unleashes his wide array of moves against Iran highlighted by this nifty spin move.