Gilas Pilipinas Women fell short of reclaiming the Southeast Asian Games tiara as it bowed to hot-shooting Vietnam in the final, 21-16, on Sunday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Truong Twins proved to be the thorn in the side of the Philippine team, joining forces down the stretch to give the nation its first 3×3 gold medal after settling for silver in last year’s festivities held in their home turf.
Coach Pat Aquino’s wards settled for silver instead, still an improvement after losing the throne and finishing just fourth back in Hanoi.
Afril Bernardino led Gilas with eight points. Jack Animam posted four points, while Janine Pontejos and Mikka Cacho scored two each.
Animam played a key role in the Filipina dribblers’ comeback inside the last two minutes, scoring back-to-back hits from point-blank to pull themselves to within a solitary point, 16-15, with 1:18 remaining in the match.
Kayleigh Truong, however, would stop the rally, calmly sinking both of her shots from the foul line to widen their lead to three with under a minute left.
It didn’t help, too, that Gilas committed a crucial turnover shortly after when Pontejos’ pass to Bernardino went outside, plus a defensive breakdown that enabled Truong to score uncontested to make it a 19-15 Vietnam lead.
Bernardino managed to answer back moments later but could no longer trim the deficit any further, and Kaylynne Truong would go on to finish it off through a free throw and then a layup off a drive with 13 seconds left to play.
It left Gilas heartbroken as the team fell to the very same unit that spoiled their campaign opener through a 21-19 overtime result in pool play Saturday. The Vietnamese finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
But they managed to turn things around after that loss, defeating Laos and erstwhile reigning champions Thailand — the one who ousted the Filipinas last year in the semis — to clinch the no. 2 seed in Pool A and reach the semis.
They would go on to beat the all-naturalized Cambodia in the semis, 21-20, thanks to Bernardino, to set up the title match versus Vietnam, who beat Indonesia by way of a 21-18 decision to reach the Big Dance first.
The Indonesians eventually bagged home the bronze medal by taking down the hosts, 21-15, with Kim Pierre-Louis leading the way with 11 points.
