MANILA — The Philippines finally clinched the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games women’s 5×5 basketball event as Gilas Pilipinas Women mauled Thailand, 91-71, in essentially the battle for the gold at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Tuesday night.
Both teams entered the final game of the round-robin women’s 5×5 basketball tourney at 2-0, making the said match technically the championship game.
Gilas Women opened the game with an 18-7 run but Thailand slowly crawled back and eventually tied the game, 43-all late in the second quarter.
Gilas Women finally finished the game off with a 9-0 run, spanning through the third period that sparked their pull-away.
Jack Animan made her first nine shots and finished with 21 points alongside five rebounds and two blocks for Gilas Women.
Team captain Janine Pontejos added 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and four steals, while Afril Bernardino put up a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds with five assists and two blocks.
Tiffany Bias made 15 markers, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block for Thailand, which settled for the silver. (PNA)
