It was not the kind of win that demanded celebration, but for Gilas Pilipinas head coach Norman Black, the result mattered far more than style points.
The Philippines ground out a result over Indonesia, 71-68, to advance to the gold medal match of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Despite a tense finish against the Indonesian dribblers, Gilas stayed on track for its title defense in the biennial meet — a milestone in itself given the rushed buildup, eligibility hurdles, and lingering doubts that had clouded the team’s preparation.
Formed just a day before the Games opener due to Thailand’s eligibility rules and injury concerns, Gilas is still seeking cohesion and consistency. Yet with the gold medal match looming tomorrow, December 19, at 8:00 PM (Philippine time) at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the team remains focused on the ultimate prize.
“A win is a win, we’re happy with it. We get a chance to move on to the Finals,” Black said after the game.
For Black, the victory carried significance beyond extending the Philippines’ unparalleled streak of 23 consecutive top-two finishes in SEA Games history.
Given the limited preparation and the constant roster changes, expectations were tempered from the start — especially after slow starts against Malaysia and Vietnam in the group stage.
Yet against the odds, Gilas is now just one win away from a record-extending 23rd SEA Games title.
(C) POC Media
“It’s been a long journey, especially for me. But for the other guys, it’s been a challenge every step of the way,” the current San Beda consultant.
“I am sure not too many people gave us much of a chance because of the way we played in our last game against Vietnam. But hey, we’re here, and we’ll be back tomorrow to try to take the gold.”
This semifinal victory marked only the third game that the Philippines played at full strength, with the winner-take-all Final set to be just their fourth outing as a cohesive roster.
With Gilas once again on the cusp of regional glory, the lack of familiarity and chemistry can no longer serve as an excuse — especially with seasoned veterans like Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Malonzo, Thirdy Ravena, and Matthew Wright on the team.
“Yes, it’s been a challenge, no question about that. We’re just trying to blend everybody together in such a short period of time. But we’re here now, so there’s no sense in talking about it. Either we get the gold or we don’t,” Black explained.
Waiting in the Final is a familiar foe: either Malaysia or host nation Thailand, with the latter emerging as the likely opponent.
Like Indonesia, Thailand promises another tough test, particularly in the paint. The Thai squad boasts a tall frontline featuring former B.League import Chanathip Jakrawan, Emmanuel Ejesu, and Ibrahim Dabi.
“That’s gonna be similar to today. They’re much bigger than us, and there are guys there who are 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9. So we’re gonna have to be strong inside the paint, similar to what we did in the last few quarters of this game. And they’re a good team,” said Black.
“They have a guard who can score the basketball, and it’s gonna be a battle tomorrow,” he added, noting that Nicola Franco should be kept in check.
