Newly-minted Southeast Asian champions Perlas Pilipinas capped off their SEABA Championship for Women campaign with a bang as they thrashed Thailand by twenty, 72-52, Sunday night at Malacca, Malaysia.
The Philippines have already clinched the title Saturday night after their narrow 77-73 win over Malaysia, thus ending their six-year title drought.
The 1-2 punch of Allana Lim and Afril Bernardino did wonders once more for Perlas. Lim led all scorers with 15 on 7 of 10 shooting, while Bernardino supplied 14 highlighted by two triples.
Perlas started slow in the game’s curtain-raiser, allowing the Thais to erupt to a 10-2 run midway. The Philippines were able to run back and close by just a point, 12-11, but Thailand banked on their shots from mid-range to close the frame with a three-point lead, 16-13.
The second frame saw Perlas finally gain the upper hand. From an 18-point knot with less than eight minutes left, the Filipinas stormed through their lethal jumpers to post a wide 32-22 lead. The Thais only scored 3 from there and the half ended in Perlas’ favor, 32-25.
Thailand kept it close with Perlas in the third period, inching by as much as four, 41-37, approaching the three-minute mark. However, Perlas did not let the Thais go any closer, zooming to a 9-3 run sparked by Bernardino to repost a wide 50-40 lead at the end of the third.
The Philippines went full blast in the final ten minutes, cruising to another 13-2 spree to post the game’s widest gap at 21, 63-42,, at the 5:18 mark. The Thais have crumbled on both ends of the floor, allowing Perlas to coast to a 20-point victory, 72-52.
Naphat Kruatiwa was the lone bright spot for Thailand with 12 markers and six rebounds.
Perlas shot 42 per cent, 30 out of 71, from the field in tonight’s blowout. They outrebounded the Thais by grabbing ten more, 49 to 39, and had better showing in the assists de[partment, 15-8. However, both teams almost had the same amount of turnovers, 25-21, with Thailand having four more.
With their 6-0 sweep of the cagefest, Perlas will be bagging home their second SEABA title, which they last won in 2010 against Thailand, 76-54, here in Manila.
The Scores:
Philippines (72) – Lim 15, Bernardino 14, Pontejos 9, Sambile 8, Almazan 6, Gupilan 6, Animam 4, Abaca 4, Resultay 3, Dy 2, Tongco 1, Cabinbin 0.
Thailand (52) – Kruatiwa 12, Prajuapsook 8, Chamnarwaree 6, Sorot 6, Surin 5, Saechua 4, Kaichaiyapoom 4, Thiratananiti 4, Chalermwat 3, Wongsason 0, Daenkaewmoon 0.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 32-25, 50-40, 72-52.
Photo by 1Titan
