Cage squads take different routes to title matches, with men barely surviving
BANGKOK—Gilas Pilipinas endured excruciating moments yet again in the men’s basketball competitions of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday. And the Filipinos barely got out of this one.
“We did make some knucklehead moves down the stretch,” coach Norman Black said after Gilas almost blew a 16-point lead in the final four minutes before escaping with a 71-68 semifinal victory over Indonesia at Nimibutr Stadium here.
“But hey, we’re happy to be here,” he said. “We’re happy with the win and we’re happy to get to the finals.”
The PH Women also made it to the gold medal match, and without much difficulty, after pulling out a 66-55 win that dethroned Indonesia earlier in the day.
Black could only heave a sigh of relief as Gilas’ defense, instrumental in its comeback from 12 points down in the first quarter before pulling away in the third, was able to atone for those blunders to keep the Filipinos quest for gold that matters most back home, on track.
Gilas will battle either host Thailand or Malaysia at 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Philippine time), hoping to cap off a journey that had plenty of detours than an orderly walk.
Aiming to do the same are the Filipino women, who leaned on a late first quarter surge and avoided a similar scenario as their men counterparts. It’s going to be the Thais whom they have to beat to regain supremacy in the region.
“Just so proud of the girls because they never gave up again,” said women’s coach Patrick Aquino, who before the game against the Indonesians was bracing for a battle like it was for the gold.
“I knew this was going to be a tough game and they’re the defending champion and we’re just happy that we won this game,” said coach Patrick Aquino.
Gilas Women, who settled for silver two years ago in Cambodia with Indonesia winning the gold after a round-robin tourney, seek a third gold in the last four editions at 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.).
As the semis were being played at presstime, the Philippines got one more gold medal outside of tennis sensation Alex Eala, courtesy of men’s softball.
The Blu Boys got back at Singapore for losing six years ago at home, taking a 3-0 victory at Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani.
They leaned on the left arm of pitcher Jehanz Maristela Coro, who fanned 17 batters in a two-hit shutout to give the Philippines its 40th gold here that comes with 58 silver and 126 bronze medals with two days before the curtains close on the 33rd edition.
Justine Rosales homered at the top of the first while Lyonas de Leon had a two-run single in the fourth for the Blu Boys.
Team Philippines, however, is still running sixth in the medal tally, with its bid for fourth virtually impossible to attain.
Thailand has 195 gold, 128 silver and 88 bronze medals, followed by Indonesia (79-89-99), Vietnam (70-72-99), Singapore (48-51-73) and Malaysia (45-48-108).
