Gilas cadets survive Thailand in SEABA Cup Finals preview

Photo from 5th SEABA Stankovic Cup website https://sport.mthai.com.

Gilas cadets had to sweat for the eliminations sweep in the 2016 SEABA Stankovic Cup and edged Thailand in a 66-65 thriller Thursday at Stadium 29 in Bangkok.

The Philippine side had to lean on late game heroics and a halfcourt miss from Chitchai Ananti at the buzzer to come out with the win.

Troy Rosario paced the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Mac Belo tallied 18 markers and seven boards in a preview for the gold medal game on Saturday.

The Gilas cadets had a hard time hitting from the outside, shooting a paltry 3-of-37 from beyond the arc, and allowed the Thais to mount numerous comebacks.

Philippines blew an early 11-point lead in the first frame, and once again saw its nine-point edge, 58-49 with 7:35 left turn to a 63-60 Thailand lead with 2:08 remaining after a pair of freebies from Nakorn Jaisanuk.

But the cadets refused to sink, as Mike Tolomia and Kevin Ferrer hit consecutive triples to re-take the lead, 66-63, with 1:02 to go.

Ananti would score on a layup with 47 seconds left to trim the lead down to one, but Raymar Jose stole the ball from Bandit Lakhan in the last 1.6.

Thailand would get one more stop, but Ananti’s prayer went to the backrim as the Philippines evaded an upset.

Ananti carried the Thais with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, Jaisanuk poured 12 markers, and Lakorn got 10 in the team’s first defeat in four games.

The Scores:

PHILIPPINES 66 – Rosario 20, Belo 18, Tolomia 9, Ferrer 7, Jalalon 6, Vosotros 4, Pogoy 2, Jose 0, Escoto 0, Pessumal 0.
THAILAND 65 – Ananti 14, Jaisanuk 12, Lakhan 10, C. Klahan 7, Lertmalaiporn 7, Chanthachon 6, P. Klahan 5, Ghogar 2, Apiromvilaichai 2, Samerjai 0, Sekteera 0.

Quarters: 21-12, 32-33, 49-48, 66-65.