Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 14) – After a dominant 58-point win over Vietnam, the Gilas Women on Sunday overcame Thailand in a much closer match, 82-70, in the 5×5 basketball tournament of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Team forward Afril Bernardo led the squad with 18 points. Khate Castillo, who topscored with 22 points in their last game, contributed 11 markers. Jack Animam and Janine Pontejos dropped 10 points apiece.
Thailand drew first blood, 0-2, but Gilas maintained a small lead for the entire game.
At one point in the 4th quarter, Thailand nearly closed the gap and reduced their deficit to just five points, 68-63. But the Filipino cagers picked up the pace to end the game with a 12-point lead.
However, the Philippines quest for a three-peat was spoiled by rival Indonesia when they secured first place by demolishing Singapore, 86-39, on Saturday.
The Philippine team has a record of four wins and one loss in the tournament. They will face Malaysia, which also holds a 4-1 record, on May 15 to vie for the silver medal.
The Philippines took home the gold in women’s basketball in 2019 in Manila and defended it in 2021 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
