By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas starts its redemption bid 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.
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.
In distaff side, the defending champio, 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 women’s basketball event.
Gilas is playing in a grueling six-game schedule in a six-day stretch in the single round-robin tournament which begins on May 10.
The Filipinas take on the Cambodians first before taking on the Singaporeans the following day (May 11). Gilas Women tangle against Indonesia (May 12) and Vietnam (May13) before wrapping up the schedule with a clash against Thailand (May 14) and Malaysia (May 15).
