Gilas Pilipinas Women during the 3×3 basketball event at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Photo from SBP
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines settled for a silver medal after bowing to sweet-shooting Vietnam, 21-16, in the women’s 3×3 competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Sunday.
Gilas Pilipinas women found themselves playing catchup early, no thanks to the pin-point marksmanship of the Vietnamese at Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Elephant Hall 2.
But Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Mikka Cacho managed to keep the enemy within striking range.
Returning ace Jack Danielle Animam then brought Gilas to within 16-15 with 1:28 left, but the towering lass out of the famed National University Lady Bulldogs was unable to sink the game-tying freebie.
Vietnam then pulled away from that point marching all the way to the gold to improve its 2nd-place finish on their home turf last year.
The Philippines also saw a big improvement in their overall campaign, securing a podium finish after losing grip of the gold in the previous edition of the SEA Games.
Bernardino finished with 8 points, Animam 4, while Pontejos and Cacho 2 each. They now gird for the 5×5 campaign, where the Philippines is the defending champion.
