Gilas Pilipinas bounces back with rout of Singapore to secure semis berth

Gilas Pilipinas’ Michael Philipps and Jerom Lastimosa in the SEA Games 2023. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Ariya Kurniawan | Instagram @ariyakurniawan16

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines vented its ire and ripped Singapore to shreds, 105-45, in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball showcase on Saturday.

Gilas Pilipinas held Singapore to just five points in the opening quarter and then kept its foot on the gas to turn the matchup into a cakewalk at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, leading by as many as 63 points en route to claiming a seat in the semifinals.

Marcio Lassiter showed the way for the Filipinos with 16 points, CJ Perez added 13 more to go with 11 rebounds, while newcomers Jerom Lastimosa and Michael Phillips chipped in 12 each in an utter show of force that hoped to ease the loss to Cambodia two nights ago.

The Philippines, which improved to 2-1, will play either dangerous Thailand or defending champion Indonesia in the crossover semifinals that get going on Monday.

Naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee looked back to his usual self with 12 points spiked with eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, a revelation in his first game, tossed in 10 points for Gilas Pilipinas.

Shi Yu Ng finished with 10 points, while Justin Yong Cheng Lim and Justen Yue Jun Chiam added eight each for Singapore which absorbed its third straight loss to stay winless in Group A play.

Gilas atoned for its frosty 36 percent shooting against the Cambodians, converting 42 of its 73 attempts against the Singaporeans.

The Nationals were also much more active with the boards, corralling 57 rebounds—which was more than twice as much as the opponent’s total on Saturday.

Gilas plays the winner of the Thailand-Indonesia duel that will be played on Monday night.