Playing true to its top billing, Gilas Pilipinas imposed its will on hapless Myanmar, 136-67, to complete a three-game sweep of the Southeast Asian Games group stage Saturday night at the MOA Arena.
Matthew Wright lit up the scoreboard and rifled in eight triples in a 29-point performance to lead the Filipinos to the routine victory that formalized their entry into the semis as the No. 1 team from Group A.
Vic Manuel (24-11-5), Troy Rosario (16) Marcio Lassiter (15 from five treys), Kiefer Ravena (15), Japeth Aguilar (12) and Greg Slaughter (10-10) joined the scoring fray in the demoltion job done even with June Mar Fajardo and Stanley Pringle sitting out to refresh for the Last-4 against Group B No. 2 Indonesia.
"We were trying to find a balance between playing game hard and respecting the game and yet not try to run up the score. We don't want to run up the score and embarrass anybody," said coach Tim Cone.
Prior to this, the Filipinos annihilated the Burmese by 104 points in the 2017 SEABA meet and handed them a 118-43 beating in the 2013 SEA Games.
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"Obviously there's a big gap in talent between two teams but the SEA Games are all about competition and friendship. You compete but you gain friends, You're not trying to create enemies in the SEA Games, that's why we all come together and that's somethy we were trying to represent tonight," Cone said.
"We want Myanmar to keep coming back and keep wanting to play and improve their basketball program. We don't want to discourage them, no one likes to be embarrassed, humiliated so we're trying to be respectful and continue to play the game hard, continue good habits going to the next game and not run uo the score. And I think we did that," he added.
Myanmar was able stay to within six points off the heavily-favored Pinoys until early in the second quarter before Lassiter aexploded from afar and sparked Gilas to a 25-point lead which it stretched to a commanding 77-36 tear at intermission.
Cone's charges pulled this latest victory off while committing a single turnover all night. (OL) / PHOTO:Marlo Cueto (spin.ph)
The Scores
Philippines 136 - Wright 29, Manuel 24, Rosario 16, Lassiter 15, Ravena 15, Aguilar 12, Slaughter 10, Tenorio 9, Standhardinger 6. Ross 0.
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Myanmar 67 - Aung 28, Chin Ta 14. Justin 6, Wana Aung 5, Laja 4, Soiu 4, Phu 4, Thant Zaw 2, Hun 0, Saw 0, Aung Zaya 0, Kaung 0.
Quarterscores: 32-24, 77-36, 104-49, 136-67
