Gilas Women unseat Indonesia, advance to SEAG hoops final

Sports

GILAS Pilipinas Women caught a big fish in booking a championship ticket as they took down defending champion Indonesia, 66-55, in their semifinal match of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Afril Bernardino and Kacey dela Rosa put up big numbers to lead the Nationals to the victory that avenged their sorry loss to the same Indonesian squad in the 2023 SEA Games. That loss denied the Philippines what could have been an unprecedented three-peat.

Dela Rosa tallied 21 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and two assists, while Bernardino piled up 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Janine Pontejos contributed 10 points and one steal, while Khate Castillo sank three triples to add nine points for Gilas, which built a 30-16 lead after the openig period.

Gilas led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter before the Indonesians moved within 43-35 at the half.

The Filipinos were still ahead by 11, 55-44, heading into the final period and were really never threatened the rest of the way.

THE SCORES:

PHILIPPINES (66) – Dela Rosa 21, Bernardino 14, Pontejos 10, Castillo 9, Dignadice 6, Ozar 4, Heyn 2, Cabinbin 0, Surada 0, Guytingco 0, Pingol 0, Del Carmen 0.

INDONESIA (55) – Wongsohardjo 18, Shoimah 13, Dewi 8, Kahol 4, Orville 4, Antonio 3, Retong 3, Madafa 0, Aritonang 0, Candra 0.QUARTERSCORES: 30-16, 43-35, 55-44, 66-55.(CCM)