By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas fell short of its bid for redemption in the 3×3 basketball events in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after the men’s and women’s teams settled for silvers at the Morodok Techno National Stadium on Sunday, May 7.
The Nationals couldn’t get the job done as the men’s team bannered by PBA 3×3 players Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Joseph Sedurifa and Joseph Eriobu fell to the hands of hosts Cambodia, 20-15 while the women’s team composed of Jack Animam, Mikka Cacho, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos dropped a 21-16 decision against Vietnam in the gold medal match.
Despite the defeats, it was still an improvement for the Gilas 3×3 teams after only winning one bronze medal in the last edition of the biennial meet in Vietnam last year.
Although riding the momentum of its huge semifinals win against erstwhile defending champion Thailand, the Filipinos still found the import-laden Cambodian squad just too big and too strong in the finale as the hosts flexed its size and speed against Gilas.
“Everybody knows di ba talagang puro import sila eh so we played our best binigay namin lahat ng magagawa namin, nakita niyo naman sa score, ayun lang binuhos lang namin lahat,” said men’s 3×3 head coach Lester Del Rosario after the game.
Peterson Brandon Jerome proved to be the biggest thorn to the side of Gilas exploding for 10 points while Dorsey Darrinrey and Pridegett Sayeedalkabir chipped in six and four points respectively.
Vosotros, meanwhile, paced the team with six points while Sedurifa and Flores added four each.
On the distaff side, the Filipinas couldn’t avenge their only loss in the pool play as Vietnam asserted its mastery over Gilas in the finals.
Bernardino, after leading the charge for the Filipinas in the semifinals, paced Gilas with eight points in the finale. That, however, all went for naught against a Vietnam side which pulled away late in the contest behind the hot hands of Thao Vy Truong.
She finished with 10 points to lead Vietnam while Tao My Truong added seven. On Gilas’ side, Animam added four while Cacho and Pontejos contributed two points apiece.
