PASAY, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas Women ended the Philippines’ long drought for a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games women’s 5×5 basketball event after beating Thailand, 91-71, in the final game of their round robin tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night.
With both teams entering the contest at 2-0, their match served as the de facto gold medal game.
But Gilas Women surged ahead in the game, opening an 18-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Thailand recovered and eventually tied the game, 43-all, late in the second, but a 9-0 run that spilled through the third period sparked the breakaway that sealed the win for Gilas Women.
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.
