GILAS PILIPINAS SETTLES FOR SILVER
Gilas Pilipinas saw the end of its SEA Games reign after absorbing a shocking 81-85 loss to vastly improved Indonesia.
Indonesia finished the round robin tournament with a 6-0 record to claim its first-ever men’s basketball gold as the Philippines settled for silver for the first time since 1989.
(READ: SEA Games shocker: Gilas Pilipinas stunned as Indonesia escapes with gold)
(READ: Chot Reyes takes blame as Indonesia ends Gilas Pilipinas’ reign in SEA Games)
PREVIEW
Gilas Pilipinas’ quest for a 14th straight Southeast Asian Games gold medal in men’s basketball makes one final stop on Sunday, May 22, as the star-studded Filipino side takes on fellow unbeaten squad Indonesia.
Apart from its opening three-point win against Thailand, Gilas was simply untouchable on its way to a 5-0 record as it walloped Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia by an average of 47.5 points. That dominant stretch is expected to continue on Sunday, 4 pm, Manila time, as the Filipinos are essentially just fighting the weight of expectations.
Expect yet another dose of balanced showings from Gilas, led by six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, high-flying prospect LeBron Lopez, and Japan B. League star imports Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena. No Filipino is even averaging more than 20 minutes a game.
On the other end, national team star Brandon Jawato and teenage sensation Derrick Xzavierro will have their hands full as Indonesia attempts to stage a monumental upset over the undisputed hardcourt kings of Southeast Asia.
Will Indonesia make the gold-medal game a true competition or will the Philippines just take a 40-minute cruise to another coronation?
– Rappler.com
