Gilas Pilipinas made sure that it won’t go home empty-handed as it beat Indonesia, 14-10, to salvage bronze in the 31st Southeast Asian Games men’s 3×3 tourney, Saturday evening at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Brandon Rosser and Reymar Caduyac put the Filipinos ahead early, before Jorey Napoles and Marvin Hayes helped out to keep the opposition at bay to eventually conclude what was a heartbreaking campaign on a triumphant note.
A bronze was the best that this team made up of PBA 3×3 squad Limitless App could accomplish after bowing to Thailand in the semis, 21-17, which ended the country’s reign as kings of the SEAG three-a-side wars.
The Philippines finished with a 5-3 record overall. It finished the eliminations at 4-2 before losing to the Thais, then the bounce-back versus Indonesia.
But while the men’s crew mentored by Willy Wilson managed to earn a podium finish, the same could not be said with the distaff side.
Gilas Women lost to, coincidentally, Indonesia, 16-10, to settle for a fourth-place finish, indeed a painful defeat for the erstwhile defending champions.
The Filipina hoopers of coach Pat Aquino had a rocky start to their campaign, but were still able to finish at fourth after the round-robin with a 3-3 card. But they seemingly ran out of luck and lost Thailand in the semis, 21-14.
Thailand, on the other hand, pulled off a Gilas in 2019 as they ruled the men’s and women’s competitions, both of which came at the hosts’ expense.
