Philippines still in race for women's basketball gold after late game run to beat Malaysia

08/12/2019

Asia

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Philippines still in race for women's basketball gold after late game run to beat Malaysia

MANILA (Philippines) - The Philippines move closer to a women’s basketball gold medal with a win in today’s SEA Games basketball action. Meanwhile, Cambodia and Singapore secure victories to finalize the 5^th to 8^th spots in the standings.

Cambodia beat Myanmar in a shoot-out for 7^th place to start the day, 110-92.

Once again, it was Joseph Hoeup who shouldered the offense for Cambodia, going off for 35 points on 15-21 shooting from the field which included 5 three-pointers. Dominic Dar also chipped in with 29 points on 6 triples.

In women’s basketball, it was a tightly contested game between Malaysia and hosts Philippines. Gilas women has built up a lead by as much as 12 points in the third quarter, but Malaysia clawed their way back to lead by 6 points with just over 5 minutes left in the game.

In need of a hero – or heroine, in this case – Ana Castillo stepped up for the Philippines, knocking down back to back three-pointers to tie the game. The momentum swung the way of the Philippines as they closed out the contest with a 13-1 run that featured 11 unanswered points.

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Putri Filipina lolos dari adangan Malaysia dan menang tipis 81-75. Empat pemain Filipina mencetak dua digit angka dengan tiga di antaranya adalah mereka yang meraih emas di nomor 3x3. Afril Bernardino jadi top skor tim dengan dobel-dobel 18 poin dan 19 rebound. Jack Animam juga dobel-dobel dengan 14 poin dan 11 rebound sementara Janine Pontejos 10 poin. Filipina kini sejajar dengan Thailand sebagai dua tim yang meraih dua kemenangan. Sementara Malaysia sejajar dengan Indonesia yang kalah dua kali dari dua gim. #SEAGames2019 📷 @ameizingphoto

A post shared by Mainbasket (@mainbasket) on Dec 8, 2019 at 4:09am PST

Afril Bernardino had a big time double-double of 18 points and 19 rebounds. She was not along as Jack Animam also had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards.

The Philippines have yet to lose so far, which means the game against undefeated Thailand on December 10 will determine the women’s basketball gold medal winner. Malaysia will play for the bronze on December 9 against Indonesia.

Singapore salvaged their SEA Games campaign with a win over rivals Malaysia, 89-75, to end up at 5^th place in men’s basketball.

Seasoned veteran Wong Wei Long shot the lights out for Singapore with 5 three-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points. He was joined with the firepower of Leon Kwek (16), Delvin Goh (16), and Wong Zhong Han (17). Malaysia’s Perry Lim had an impressive 18 points and 9 rebounds for 6^th-placed finishers.

FIBA