SEA Games

Gilas Pilipinas blows out Malaysia in tense match to sweep group phase

Jane Bracher

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Gilas Pilipinas blows out Malaysia in tense match to sweep group phase
(UPDATED) The Philippine men's national basketball team emerges from the SEA Games group stage tested but unscathed

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (UPDATED) – Gilas Pilipinas bucked a slow start and pulled away from the second quarter onwards to rout hosts Malaysia, 98-66, in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, August 23 at the MABA Stadium here. 

The Philippines swept its group phase assignment 3-0 and pulled out the victory amid a hostile environment that resulted in tensions boiling over at one point midway in the third quarter.

In that play, Kevin Ferrer got entangled with Kuek Tian Yuan during a rebound play as Baser Amer went to try and free his teammate. Amer, however, tried to do so by wrapping his arms around Kuek and the shoving and pushing ensued. 

Despite being seen attempting to pacify players from both sides, Carl Bryan Cruz wound up being ejected from the game, and so was Amer.

Kuek, who paced Malaysia with 14 points and 4 rebounds, remained in the game.

It wasn’t the only commotion during the game as a Malaysian fan was seen yelling at the Gilas bench and pounding his drum right behind them as he walked past. Players on the bench looked over to him and a police officer called out the fan.

Cruz said there were also fans who were cursing at them.

Christian Standhardinger set the tone early by working the post and scoring 10 of the Philippines’ first 13 points to finish with a game-high 18 along with 18 rebounds.

Kobe Paras had a second straight double-digit game with 16 markers on top of 8 boards off the bench. Troy Rosario and Kiefer Ravena combined for 24 points. Amer finished with 10 points before leaving the game while Cruz added 3 points and two rebounds.

The Philippines now moves on to the crossover semifinals on Friday. Rappler.com

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