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| Gilas is now number 34 in the world. FIBA (file photo) |
MANILA—Gilas Pilipinas scored a breakthrough in the Tim Cone era as the national team jumped four places in the latest FIBA rankings.
As released on Thursday, Gilas moved up to number 34 in the world after all the games throughout the long July-August window from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments to the Paris Olympics.
With Jordan dropping to 35th place overall, Gilas also moved up to number seven in the FIBA Asia-Pacific Zone even as they remain the top Southeast Asian team.
Gilas' huge upset against former world number six Latvia during the OQT factored mainly in its rise from number 38 after the February window.
After eventually missing the Paris Olympics ride, Latvia dropped three places to number nine in the world rankings and number five in FIBA Europe.
Georgia, which Gilas eliminated to make the FIBA OQT semis, also slipped one spot to number 24.
The United States, banking on its Paris Olympics gold, remains the number one basketball team in the world.
Serbia, led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, moved up to number two after winning the bronze in Paris, leapfrogging reigning FIBA World Cup champion Germany, which remained at number three.
Serbia, now with Jokic playing, avenged its FIBA World Cup final loss to Germany in the Paris Olympics battle for third to deny the latter a podium finish.
France, which nearly pulled off a comeback against Team USA before settling for the silver at home, climbed five spots to number four.
Australia remains the top team for FIBA Asia-Pacific, although the Boomers fell two spots to seventh in the world as they are now moving on from the recently resigned head coach Brian Goorjian.
For continental Asia, Japan remains at number one even as they climbed five spots to number 21 in the world.
South Sudan's meteoric rise continued as they are now the number one team in Africa at number 23 overall, overtaking Ivory Coast, which only moved up one spot to 31st in the world.
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