Gilas opens SEAG campaign vs Malaysia; women's team braces for grueling sked
Gilas Pilipinas is opening its bid for redemption against Malaysia in a duel that will also serve as curtain raiser to the highly anticipated 5-on-5 men’s basketball event in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on May 9.
The Nationals will then take on host Cambodia two days later on May 13 before they wrap up their Group A assignments against Singapore on May 15 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh. Should Gilas finish within the top two spots of its group, the Filipinos will then figure in a crossover semifinals duel against the top two teams in Group B. Favorites to come out and finish in the top two in the group are defending champion Indonesia and fellow SEAG basketball power Thailand. Joining them are Vietnam and Laos. All eyes are on Gilas' redemption tour as it is expected to come out strong and reclaim the lost gold medal after it settled for a silver medal for the first time in 33 years in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year. Indonesia defeated the Philippines, 85-81, to complete a sweep of the tournament and win the gold. Meanwhile, the defending champion Gilas women’s team is bracing for a tough schedule in the biennial meet as it guns for an unprecedented three-peat in the 5-on-5 competition. The Gilas women's crew is playing in a grueling six-game schedule in a six-day stretch in the single round-robin tournament which begins on May 10 at the same venue. The Filipinas take on the Cambodians first before clashing with the Singaporeans the following day, May 11. Gilas Women tangle against Indonesia on May 12 and Vietnam on May 13 before wrapping up the schedule with a clash against Thailand on May 14 and Malaysia on May 15.
*Justin Brownlee (left) and Janine Pontejos (FIBA photo/PSC pool photo)
*The Nationals will then take on host Cambodia two days later on May 13 before they wrap up their Group A assignments against Singapore on May 15 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh. Should Gilas finish within the top two spots of its group, the Filipinos will then figure in a crossover semifinals duel against the top two teams in Group B. Favorites to come out and finish in the top two in the group are defending champion Indonesia and fellow SEAG basketball power Thailand. Joining them are Vietnam and Laos. All eyes are on Gilas' redemption tour as it is expected to come out strong and reclaim the lost gold medal after it settled for a silver medal for the first time in 33 years in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year. Indonesia defeated the Philippines, 85-81, to complete a sweep of the tournament and win the gold. Meanwhile, the defending champion Gilas women’s team is bracing for a tough schedule in the biennial meet as it guns for an unprecedented three-peat in the 5-on-5 competition. The Gilas women's crew is playing in a grueling six-game schedule in a six-day stretch in the single round-robin tournament which begins on May 10 at the same venue. The Filipinas take on the Cambodians first before clashing with the Singaporeans the following day, May 11. Gilas Women tangle against Indonesia on May 12 and Vietnam on May 13 before wrapping up the schedule with a clash against Thailand on May 14 and Malaysia on May 15.