Gilas Pilipinas opens SEA Games 2023 bid vs Malaysia

Gilas reconvenes after the PBA Finals on Wednesday, April 26, at Meralco Gym in Pasig City. | Denison Rey A. Dalupang/PDI

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines immediately plunges into action when the basketball competition of the Southeast Asian Games gets going.

Gilas Pilipinas, bannered by naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee, will play Malaysia on May 9, kicking off the showcase at Morodok Techo in Phnom Penh.

The Nationals then play the hosts and then wrap up its Group A run against Singapore, according to a schedule released by the Cambodian Basketball Federation.

The top two finishers then advance to the cross-over semifinals set on May 15.

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This year’s competition employs a format different from the traditional round-robin used in previous stagings of the meet.

The Philippines’ bracket seems to be less challenging compared to Group B where champion Indonesia, perennial contender Thailand, Vietnam and Laos are situated.

But national coach Chot Reyes said clearing the group phase would only mean that Gilas is assured of a dangerous opponent come knockout stages.

“Sure, you’re in a weaker group. But that means in the cross-over, you’ll be drawing a certain opponent,” he told the Inquirer.

“So there’s not really an advantage there. It just assures us that we’ll be playing an opponent that is strong.”

The Philippines is looking to reclaim the basketball gold it held on for 33 years after losing it to Indonesia in the Hanoi games last year.

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Inquirer’s special coverage of the Cambodia SEA Games 2023.