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The Philippines headed for worst-ever Asian Games finish in basketball

INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA - SEPTEMBER 25: Jim Alapag of the Philippines and Mahdi Kamrani of Iran competes during the Basketball Menâs Preliminary round match between Iran and the Philippines during day five of the 2014 Asian Games at Hwaseong Sports Complex Gymnasium on September 25, 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

After losing their first classification game against China, 78-71, Gilas Pilipinas is now assured of the country’s worst finish ever in the history of the basketball competitions in the Asian Games.

The loss to China relegated Gilas to a playoff against Mongolia for seventh place, an all-time Asian Games low for this basketball-crazy country. With their confidence-building stint in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Gilas was expected to compete strongly in the quadrennial event even without naturalized NBA player Andray Blatche in their lineup.

They started well with a win over India but suffered three straight setbacks against Iran, Qatar, and South Korea. They also failed to enter the semifinals through the backdoor as they didn’t win big against Kazakhstan.

In 16 previous editions of the Asian Games, the Philippines' worst finish in men's basketball was sixth twice, in 1966 and in 2010.

Led by Carlos Loyzaga, Moro Lorenzo, and Lauro Mumar, the Philippines took home the gold medal in the inaugural Asian Games in 1951. The Philippines dominated the competitions until 1962 but the country's run was finally halted by Israel in the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok.

From 1966 to 1982, the Philippines finished out of the medal picture as they garnered two fourth-place and three fifth-place finishes in that span.

With greats such as Allan Caidic and Alvin Patrimonio leading the charge, the Philippine team finished with a bronze in 1986 thanks to a stinging loss to host South Korea. In 1990, with FIBA's open basketball policy in effect, the Philippine Basketball Association finally allowed its players to compete in international competitions, and the result was a silver medal behind  host China.

In 1994, the Philippines suffered a painful 79-76 loss to Japan in the bronze medal match but they were able to capture third place in the 1998 Asian Games with the legendary Philippine Centennial Team. This was the last time the country won a medal in the Asiad.

They finished fourth in 2002 as the Korean curse continued with a stinging loss in the semifinals. The Philippines didn’t even compete in the 2006 Asian Games as FIBA suspended the country’s governing body.

In 2010, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas placed sixth with a largely amateur squad supported by Marcus Douthit and some PBA players.

Even if the country has struggled in recent Asian Games, the Philippines still holds the second place with four golds. China leads with seven.

South Korea will be targeting to tie the Philippines' four-gold tally as they attempt to win it all at home in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Iran, Japan, and Kazakhstan, the other three teams in the semifinals, also have their sights set on their first basketball gold.