Sedurifa, Bernardino shine as Gilas 3x3 teams advance to finals
Published May 7, 2023 03:47 am
Joseph Sedurifa and Afril Bernardino drilled the game-clinching basket for their respective squads as Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the finals of the 3x3 basketball events in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Morodok Techno National Stadium on Sunday, May 7.
Afril Bernardino scored the game-clinching basket as the women’s team pulled off a pulsating 21-20 victory over host Cambodia while Joseph Sedurifa buried the booming left wing deuce to clinch the victory over defending champion Thailand, 21-19 in the men’s event.
With the game tied 20-all, Bernardino showed nerves of steel and drove hard to the basket, scoring a well-contested layup to assure the Filipinas of at least a silver medal finish.
Bernardino and Janine Pontejos provided the deadly one-two punch as they wound up with eight points each while Mikka Cacho and Jack Animam added four and one points respectively.
It was actually Pontejos who led the attack for the Filipinas early, embarking on a 6-0 run to establish a 12-5 advantage. The hosts though refused to go down without a fight as they tied the game 15-all.
Bernardino though took over and helped Gilas restore a four point lead, 19-15 but the Cambodians battled back to tie the game, 20-20, setting up the table for the veteran’s heroics.
Meanwhile, trailing for the most part of the contest, Sedurifa put the team on his shoulders, also drilling the two-pointer that tied the game at 19-all. He finished with eight points while Joseph Eriobu added five points. Almond Vosotros and Lervin Flores chipped in four point apiece