France Cabinbin was able to find Allana Lim underneath with 12 seconds left, as Perlas Pilipinas pulled off a come-from-behind win against 2015 SEA Games Bronze medalists Thailand, 69-67, Wednesday evening at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The win lifted the Philippines to 3-1, while handing Thailand its first loss.
Lim, a former UAAP MVP, led Perlas with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting. And Perlas needed every point it could get, as they had to overcome Thailand.
Down by as many as 15 points at halftime, and down 10 entering the final frame, the Patrick Aquino-mentored squad pulled off a 16-2 rally sparked by Ara Abaca. Analyn Almazan, Janine Pontejos, and Cabinbin all contributed in the rally as well, while forcing Thailand to turnovers.
A basket by Naruemol Banmoo with 1:33 left tried to stop the bleeding and put Thailand up by 2, 67-65. But free throws by Almazan with 46 ticks remaining knotted the game, before Lim knocked down the game-winner. A miss by Juthamas Jantakan sealed the win for the Filipinas.
Almazan finished with a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Pontejos added 14 markers. Afril Bernardino fouled out with 7:48 still on the clock.
Banmoo paced Thailand with 12 points off the bench.
Perlas will next face host Malaysia tomorrow at 11:15am.
The Scores:
Perlas Pilipinas 69 – Lim 16, Pontejos 14, Almazan 13, Bernardino 9, Cabinbin 6, Animam 5, Abaca 4, Resultay 2, Castro 0, Dy 0, Sambile 0, Tongco 0.
Thailand 67 – Banmoo 12, Klanbut 10, Jantakan 9, Maihom 7, Kunchuan 6, Mathuros 6, Yothanan 5, Buapa 4, Phromrat 4, Saechua 4, Kaichaiyapoom 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 30-45, 51-61, 69-67.
