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| Gilas got squeezed by Indonesia in the de facto gold medal game. PSC-POC Pool |
CARMONA--The last thing that could happen to the Philippine men's basketball team in Southeast Asian play at least for the past 33 years just happened on Sunday.
The seemingly invincible Gilas Pilipinas fell prey to Indonesia, 81-85, in the final day of the SEA Games men's 5x5 basketball event at the Thanh Tri District Sporting Hall in Hanoi.
Both teams entered their showdown with similar 5-0 records in the round robin tournament, making their clash the de facto championship game.
However, Indonesia quickly sent a warning to Gilas after leading for most of the first half to go up, 36-32 at halftime.
Gilas seemed to have found a way to pummel Indonesia as they took advantage of Marques Bolden's foul trouble and went on an 15-5 run midway through the third quarter to take a 60-54 lead with 1:37 remaining.
Indonesia, however, responded with three straight triples, two from Brandon Jawato, to end the third by retaking the lead, 63-60.
Indonesia held on to the lead for the entire fourth quarter as they quickly answered Gilas' late challenges to steal the win.
Bolden led Indonesia, which dethroned Gilas after ruling the event for the past 13 editions, with 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Abraham Grahita added 17 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal for Indonesia, which won the SEA Games men's 5x5 basketball gold for the first time ever even as they achieved the golden double for men's basketball after also taking the 3x3 gold earlier in the SEA Games.
Matthew Wright put up 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal to lead the Philippine team, which fell to the silver for the first time since an all-amateur team whose core would become a bunch of stars in the pros dropped to second place in the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
June Mar Fajardo added 20 points, nine rebounds, and one steal.
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