RIGA (Latvia) - Whether their respective teams went out of contention early, fought until the end, or eventually came out on top in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Riga, these players emerged as outstanding players worthy of being their country's MVP.
Sandro Mamukelashvili - Georgia
Stats: 20.5 EFF, 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists per game - 61.5% FG, 45.5% 3PT, 75.0% FT
Most people expected Georgia to be in the Philippines' position, advancing to the Semi-Finals by going side by side with the hosts Latvia.
Instead, in part due to Tornike Shengelia's absence in the blowout defeat to Luca Banchi's team in Group A's opener, Georgia found its back on the walls by needing to win by 19 points or more against the surprising Gilas.
Whenever his contribution was needed, Sandro Mamukelashvili left his all on the floor of Arena Riga by putting up 20.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over 61.5 percent from the field.
If he continues delivering on the big stage at this level, there's certainty: the future is bright for the Georgian national team.
Marko Simonovic - Montenegro
Stats: 17.5 EFF, 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game - 45.5% FG, 50.0% 3PT, 100.0% FT
We know you are surprised to not see Nikola Vucevic named here.
"Vooch" still averaged a double-double of 14.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.
But it's just that his contribution was expected, while few expected Marko Simonovic to be the key in a tough win over Cameroon, even if it wasn't enough to qualify for the Semi-Finals.
The upcoming 25-year-old center led his country in scoring by shooting well from the arc and at the free-throw line.
Justin Brownlee - Philippines
Stats: 27.0 EFF, 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists per game - 46.2% FG, 43.5% 3PT, 100.0% FT
Let's be honest, whoever saw that this run by the Philippines was coming, is lying.
Tim Cone's team delivered a surprising show in Riga by displaying the evergreen triangle offense and it wouldn't have been as effective as it was without Justin Brownlee.
The 36-year-old star - or as boldly claimed "The Michael Jordan of Philippine basketball" - looked in the zone during this span in Latvia. After shockingly upsetting the hosts and then nearly wiping away a huge deficit against Georgia, he was named TCL Player of the Game twice.
Aleksandar Petrovic prepared the best defensive gameplan to limit him by putting both Leo Meindl and Georginho De Paula on special coverage, and the Philippines lost to Brazil. But that's what it took.
Despite a final performance that saw his numbers decrease, he still first, third, and first in the whole tournament among points, rebounds, and assists, respectively. Bronwlee did it all for Gilas Pilipinas.
Jeremiah Hill - Cameroon
Stats: 12.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.3 APG - 80.0% FT
Yes, Justin Brownlee was first in the competition in assists but he shared that title with Jeremiah Hill as well.
Pushing the Indomitable Lions to Riga after a huge double-double with 14 assists on the table against Senegal in last year's FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Lagos, the experienced guard provided the spark for his team this summer.
First by scaring Montenegro in their tournament's opener and then taking down Brazil with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to stay alive, he embraced the team's fearless spirit.
Only surrendering against Latvia in the Semi-Finals, Jeremiah still ended his stay near the Baltic Sea with Cameroon's high hopes. He also sent a message to every African opponent for FIBA AfroBasket 2025: he's eager for more.
Rihards Lomazs - Latvia
Stats: 10.5 EFF, 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game - 32.6% FG, 100.0% FT
Rihards Lomazs wanted to take his sweet revenge after not having been able to represent his country at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in both Jakarta and Manila.
The way Luca Banchi's team approached its home debut against Georgia - where two of the tournament's breakout stars, Mareks Mejeris and Arturs Strautins, put on a show - made it hopeful for the home fans that saw it as a preview to what would come next.
Instead, Brazil managed to surprise the crowd favorite in Arena Riga with an astonishing 34-11 run in the first quarter. Everybody looked hopeless but Rihards Lomazs, who tried to slow down Aleksandar Petrovic's team with transition pull-ups.
Bringing his country back to the Olympic Games after almost nine decades was the ultimate and dream goal. While he ended up short, Lomazs still ended up as Latvia's top scorer with 12.0 points per game.
Bruno Caboclo - Brazil
Stats: 22.5 EFF, 17.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks per game - 66.7% FG, 69% 2PT FG, 90.5% FT
How could one describe Bruno Caboclo's performance in Riga? "Unstoppable" looks on point.
Since Brazil's opening game against Montenegro, he seemed like an unsolvable enigma. His stat line of 25 points and 9 rebounds against Nikola Vucevic already made all the following opponents concerned.
That buzzer-beater to conclude the Brazilian three-point samba in the first quarter of the Final against Latvia was the icing on the Olympian cake for the hungry Bruno Caboclo.
Ultimately, he finished the four-game competition third in scoring, while also locking things down in the paint and shooting well from the field (24/36) and almost perfectly at the charity stripe (19/21).
Dunks, presence in the paint, elite use of both pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop: the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament TISSOT MVP had to be his country's MVP.
FIBA