Gilas Pilipinas escapes Thailand
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas averted disaster with a 76- 73 escape over Thailand in the men’s basketball competition of the 31st Southeast Asian Games last night in Hanoi, Vietnam.
June Mar Fajardo spearheaded the offense with double-double 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III added 17 markers for the 14-time defending champions.
After a flat start, where the Gilas went down 11-21, the national team went on a strong run in the second quarter behind Fajardo and Ravena to snatch a 38-34 halftime lead.
Gilas continued its run in the second half on inside conversions by Fajardo as the lead reached its largest at 73-63 but Thailand rallied back to cut the deficit to 71-75.
Ravena had a chance to seal the win for Gilas Pilipinas but missed his two free throws which led to an easy layup by Antonio Price as Thailand cut the deficit to 73-75 with seven
seconds left.
Kiefer Ravena, for his part, split his free throws for the national men’s basketball team for a 76- 73 count. Thailand had a chance to tie it but Nakorn Jaisanuk missed his triple.
Gilas Pilipinas Women, meanwhile, also kicked off
i ts SEA Games women’s basketball gold medal title defense with a 93- 77 domination against Indonesia Mera Puti.
Holding to a 10-point edge after three quarters, the Gilas Pilipinas Women kicked off the fourth period with a 7-0 blast capped by a triple by Trina Guytingco for a 79-62 lead.
The Indonesians made its last push to cut the deficit team can win, kung sino ang
Tan said. The Cardinals stunned the Knights in the opening quarter with outside conversions and inside operator as they zoomed to a 24- 15 l ead following a layup by Toby Agustin.
Mapua continued its run in the second quarter onwards but Letran showed some life in the final two quarters before finally taking the lead on baskets by Jeo Ambohot and Paraiso.
Warren
to 81- 69 but consecutive baskets by Janine Pontejos followed by another twopointer from Afril Bernardino widened Philippines’ lead to 93-77.
Bernardino spearheaded the offense for the Gilas Women with 16 points and nine rebounds, Pontejos chipped in 15 markers, while Filipino-American Gabi Bade and Camille Clarin contributed 11 points each./ double-double 10 points and 14 rebounds while Arvin Gamboa also had 10 points for the Cardinals.