[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Gilas escapes Thailand in Kuala Lumpur ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas cadets survived a tough stand by Thailand to open its 29th Southeast Asian Games campaign with a victory 81-74 on Sunday night at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Trailing 69-71 after a triple by Thailand, the Filipinos scored 8 straight from Kiefer Ravena, Jeth Troy Rosario and Baser Amer to snatch a 77-71 edge.
Thailand threatened to come to within 74-77 on 3 straight points but an inside hit by Christian Standhardinger followed by free throws by Bobby Ray Parks Jr. sealed the win for the Philippines.
Rosario led the way with 16 points while Standhardinger, Parks and Ravena contributed 15, 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Gilas, which looks to defend its SEA Games title.
Gilas cadets led by as much as 13 points early in the game but the Thais were able to bounce back on baskets by American-Thai Tyler Lamb to turn the match into a seesaw affair all the way.
PERLAS ROUTS S’PORE
On the distaff side, Perlas Pilipinas also began its campaign on a bright note after clobbering Singapore 88-54. Afril Bernardino led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
It was a close game for both teams midway in the second quarter until Bernardino and Janine Pontejos anchored a huge scoring run to give Perlas a 39-26 halftime lead.
The Filipinas’ domination continued in the second half. The lead swelled further 64-36 at the end of the third period and reached its highest at 34 points in the final canto./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
