In their toughest game so far, Perlas Pilipinas displayed team-wide character as they shrugged off a gutsy Indonesia, 72-56, to keep their hold of the top seed in the 2016 SEABA Championship for Women, Friday night in Malacca, Malaysia.
Guard Allana Lim scorched hot for Perlas, flirting with a double-double with 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and 9 rebounds. Cindy Resultay supplied 15 markers, highlighted by two triples.
Perlas used their shooting from the perimeter to unleash a 9-0 start in the opening frame. The Indonesians closed in by seven, 14-7, but Perlas kept the Indons away through an 8-2 run sparked by Resultay to post a 13-point lead, 22-9. Indonesia outscored Philippines, 6-4, to wrap up the frame, but Perlas managed to hold a 26-15 lead heading into the next quarter.
Indonesia made it a nine-point game, 26-17, in the opening sequence of the second quarter, but that prove to be the closest they would get, as Perlas’ offense started to click once more towards a 15-point lead, 34-19, with 4:04 on the clock. The Indonesians kept coming back, but could not get within a single digit, as Perlas closed the first half with a 13-point advantage, 41-28.
The third quarter saw Indonesia click on both ends of the floor. With 17 points, 44-28, early in the frame, the Indonesians relied on their inside game to outscore the Philippines, 20-11, capped by a triple to finally inch within a single digit, 55-48, in the 2:05 mark. The quarter ended still in Perlas’ favor, but in a much closer affair, 57-49.
Sensing that an Indonesia comeback was threatening, Perlas, with Afril Bernardino hitting much-needed baskets, pulled away in the final ten minutes, re-establishing a double-digit advantage, 63-49, early. From there, Perlas kept Indonesia at bay to secure the victory, 72-56, and their hold of the top spot.
Sumiati Sumiati and Fanny Kalumata paced Indonesia with 13 points apiece.
The Philippines only converted 35.7 per cent of their shots, 30 to 84, on the floor. However, they out-rebounded the Indons, 56 to 37, and produced more assists, 15 to 7.
Perlas (4-0) will face Malaysia (3-0) tomorrow (Saturday, September 24), at 8:00 PM, in a battle of undefeated squads.
The Scores:
Philippines (72) – Lim 24, Resultay 15, Bernardino 8, Almazan 7, Dy 6, Cabinbin 4, Sambile 4, Animam 2, Tongco 2, Gupilan 0, Abaca 0, Pontejos 0.
Indonesia (56) – Sumiati 13, Kalumata 13, Ayuningrum 8, Soemaryono 6, Sophia 6, Dewi 5, Putri 3, Humardani 2, Saputra 0, Nugroho 0, Kusumasari 0, Kurniawan 0.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 41-28, 57-49, 72-56.
