By Kevin Estrada
PASAY -- Thailand flexed their forward line to deal the Philippines its first loss in the Southeast Asian Games ice hockey tournament with 10-1 beatdown Friday evening at the Mall of Asia Ice Rink.
It took a quick blitz in each of the three periods for the visiting Thais to nab the top spot in the battle of the two unbeaten teams, winning all four games and only conceding three goals in the process as they avenged their close defeat in the gold medal game in the previous edition in a massive way possible.
Forward Patrick Forstner tucked in a hat-trick and an assist to collect four points, with Phanuruj Suwachirat netted a double for Thailand, who fired in 39 shots on goal, compared to just 16 for the reigning SEA Games champions.
Carlo Tenedero tucked in the Eagle's lone goal off Carl Montero's feed to reduce the deficit in the second period to 3-1, but Thailand grounded them with four of their own to practically put the game away, with Forstner's quickfire double put an end to the misery to Paolo Spafford.
With the win, Thailand will face fourth-seed Malaysia while the hosts battle third seed Singapore in the knockout semifinals Saturday.
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