Gilas Women failed to conclude its 31st Southeast Asian Games campaign on a triumphant note after suffering a 93-96 heartbreaker at the hands of Malaysia, Sunday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Filipina dribblers lost hold of a seven-point lead they built with less than three minutes remaining, with Ching Yin Yin drilling the go-ahead three-pointer with 17 seconds left to cap off her side’s furious fightback.
Coach Pat Aquino’s wards tried to make something out of the time left, but the Malaysians prevented them through their stifling defense.
Regardless of the result, the Philippines is still assured of the gold medal, which it achieved Saturday night following Malaysia’s loss to the host.
Janine Pontejos top-scored for Gilas with 18 points and six rebounds. Afril Bernardino made 16 points, seven boards, and seven steals.
The two national team vanguards spearheaded the Filipinas’ fourth quarter rally. Bernardino scored the last half of an 8-0 run that turned a six-point deficit to an 83-81 advantage with 6:28 to go in the deciding period.
Pontejos caught fire afterwards, as she nailed back-to-back triples as a response to their foes’ own make from deep. And with another veteran in Chack Cabinbin helping out, their lead ballooned to 93-86 with 2:28 to play.
Unfortunately, the Philippines could not close it out, with Fook Yee Yap powering the Malaysians’ 7-0 run that proved to be the finishing kick.
Nonetheless, Gilas is going back home as queens of ASEAN hoops, still, while giving the country its 48th gold medal in the Hanoi Games.
Gabi Bade had 13 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Ella Fajardo made 12 points, while Cabinbin and Angel Surada added 10 apiece.
Meanwhile. Yap and Chong led Malaysia with 25 points apiece. Pang Hui Pin supplied 21 points and 10 rebounds. The 13-time SEAG champions’ offense came hugely from the three veteran internationalists.
The Scores:
Malaysia (96) – Yap 25, Chong 25, Pang 21, Saw 10, Toh 7, Foo 6, Lee 2, Low 0, Tan 0, Lee 0.
Philippines (93) – Pontejos 18, Bernardino 16, Bade 13, Fajardo 12, Cabinbin 10, Surada 10, Castillo 5, Clarin 3, Tongco 3, Berberabe 2, Guytingco 1, Castro 0.
Quarterscores: 25-28, 58-54, 77-71, 96-93.
