MANILA – Gila Pilipinas kept its unblemished slate in the 31st Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball. It dominated Singapore, 88-37, last night at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Roger Pogoy spearheaded the offense with 19 points, three steals and two rebounds. Francis Lopez chipped in 18 markers. Gilas Pilipinas improved to 3-0.
June Mar Fajardo finished with a near double-double of eight points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and a block as the national men’s basketball team nears its 15th straight SEA Games gold.
Pogoy caught fire in the opening half. He poured 14 early points for a 43-17 halftime lead. It further grew in the second half with Lopez waxing hot for a 51-point win.
Gilas Pilipinas’ blowout win came a day after they handed Cambodia a 100-32 manhandling which came on the heels of a tight 76-73 win over Thailand last Monday.
Gilas Pilipinas Women, for their part, whipped rival Thailand 97-81, for its second straight win in women’s basketball event.
Afril Bernardino showed the way with 20 points and 16 rebounds as the Gilas women’s squad took the lead in the round-robin tournament where the top placer wins the gold.
Four consecutive threes from Fil-Am rookie Stefanie Berberabe, Chack Cabinbin, Janine Pontejos, and Gabi Bade sparked a big charge that turned a 27-25 lead into a 39-27 bubble in the second period.
“I’m just so happy again. They really worked hard and competed at the start. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, let’s just continue what we are doing. Wala naman tayong dapat baguhin. Sana dere-derecho lang,” said coach Pat Aquino.
Berberabe had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Katrina Guytingco chipped in 10 points. Cabinbin, Clare Castro and Bade each had nine markers./PN
