Gilas Women advance to SEA Games 3×3 semifinal despite opening loss

Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 squad. –GILAS WOMEN FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas recovered after losing its opening assignment with back-to-back wins to secure a semifinals berth in the women’s 3×3 basketball competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Saturday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Jack Aninam, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos and Mikka Cacho defeated Laos, 21-6, and dethroned champion Thailand, 14-8, to finish with a 2-1 record in Pool A of the event held at Morodok Techo Indoor Sports Center.

They finished second behind pool winner Vietnam, which won all three games including a tight 21-19 win over Gilas Women earlier in the day.

Animam, Bernardino, Pontejos and Cacho will take on host Cambodia in Sunday’s semifinal at the same venue.

Cambodia swept Pool B with three wins while Indonesia placed second at 2-1 to secure a semis meeting with Vietnam.

The final is also set Sunday, which Gilas hopes to reach after failing to retain the gold during last year’s regional meet in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Losers of both semis will be relegated to a match for bronze.

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