GILAS BABAWI, SEMIS AASINTAHIN

32nd SEA Games
Group A men’s basketball standings
Cambodia 2-0
Philippines 1-1
Malaysia 1-1
Singapore 0-2

Mga laro sa Sabado (May 13):
(Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2)
11 a.m. local time / 12 noon Manila time – Vietnam vs. Philippines (W)
1 p.m. local time / 2 p.m. Manila time – Singapore vs. Philippines (M)

PHNOM PENH. – Sisikapin ng Gilas Pilipinas na makabawi at kunin ang isang semifinals berth sa pagsagupa sa Singapore sa 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament ngayong Sabado sa Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2.

Sasalang ang Pilipinas sa ala1 ng hapon (2 p.m. sa Manila) hangad na makabawi sa 79-68 pagkatalo sa Cambodia noong Huwebes.

Sinabi ni head coach Chot Reyes na kailangang paghusayin pa ng koponan ang paglalaro makaraang bumuslo lamang ng 36 percent mula sa field kontra Cambodia sa gitna ng nakaiiritang init sa loob ng venue.

Nakaranas si naturalized player Justin Brownlee ng pamumulikat at dehydration at umiskor lamang ng 10 points.

“It was just a terrible first half for us,” sabi ni Reyes. “You saw what happened. Justin couldn’t move, severely dehydrated. The heat really got to him. But later on, he played better but then he was cramping up already because he lost too much fluids.

“It’s something that we can learn on and move on. We go to the next game and then, prepare for the knockout semifinals,” an Reyes.

Nagkaroon ng tensiyon nang tumawag ng timeout si Cambodia coach Marcus Savaya, may 20.7 segundo ang nalalabi sa laro at selyado na ang resulta ng laro.

“I just want to be very polite. You all saw what happened. That’s just an unwritten rule, that’s just culture. And it’s not even coaching ethics, it’s just ethics. Just ethics, right? So, you know, if he wants to— if the other coach wants to make a fool of himself, then that’s on him. That’s not our problem,” ayon pa kay Reyes.

Tatangkain ng Singapore na maging spoiler subalit mahihirapan sila makaraang matalo sa Cambodia, 85-60, at Malaysia, 93-70, sa kanilang naunang mga laro.

Magpapatuloy rin ang aksiyon para sa Gilas Women sa kanilang pagharap sa Vietnam sa alas-11 ng umaga (12 noon Manila time).