Gilas Women outlasted Malaysia in a nip-and-tuck affair, 13-11, to keep its title retention hopes alive in the 31st Southeast Asian Games 3×3 competitions, Saturday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Afril Bernardino displayed the needed stability in the endgame, not allowing her side to collapse. She nailed back-to-back baskets to erase a 7-8 deficit.
Janine Pontejos did her part as well, converting a lay-up of her own off a drive. That pushed the Filipina dribblers’ lead to 10-8 with 1:29 remaining.
The Malaysians were able to tie it up at 11-11 all behind the deuce of Hui Pin Pang with about a minute left, but Clare Castro replied with a short jumper.
Pontejos went on to split her charities with 3.3 seconds left to play, and they all prevented the opposition from converting from deep as time expired.
Gilas finished the eliminations at 3-3 after showing the erstwhile reigning bronze medalists the exit doors. It will head into the knockout semifinals as the fourth seed, and are bound for a collision course with the 6-0 Thailand.
The Philippines can exact revenge on the no. 1 team, who was one of the nations that handed them twin losses in Friday’s opening festivities.
It would be an early rematch of the 2019 final in Manila, where the home team went away with a 17-13 decision to rule the then-debuting event.
Meanwhile, the other semis bracket will see Indonesia take on Vietnam in a battle of no.2 and no.3 squads, respectively. The former has the mental edge following their 19-18 squeaker over the host nation yesterday.
The Vietnamese, though, aren’t running short of motivation as well. They’re eager to improve their fourth-place finish in the previous meet.
