THE Southeast Asian Games men's basketball gold is back home again.
Gilas Pilipinas displayed grit and determination to turn back host Cambodia, 80-69, to regain basketball supremacy in the 32nd edition of the biennial showcase on Tuesday in Phonm Penh.
Justin Brownlee again spearheaded the Filipinos' bid, firing away for 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while leading a second quarter charge that put them in control of the game for good before a raucous crowd at the Morodok Techo National Stadium Elephant Hall 2 that included the Cambodian Prime Minister.
Brownlee, had 15 in the first half which ended with Gilas sitting on a 44-33 lead.
Chris Newsome also came big for the team with 16 points in his best game yet in the meet, while Marcio Lassiter celebrated his 36th birthday by finishing with 10 points including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
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The win allowed the Filipinos to reclaim the gold medal they surrendered to Indonesia in the Hanoi edition of the Games last year.
Additionally, it restored Philippine basketball pride after Gilas earlier lost to the same Cambodian side reinforced by six naturalized players during the preliminary, 79-68.
"I know a lot of people doubted this team the first time we lost," admitted coach Chot Reyes, who had his fist clenched in the air when everything was all over.
"We needed that lost, actually."
Gilas needed to dethrone Indonesia with an 84-76 win in the semis to have another crack at the Cambodians.
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Christian Standhardinger and CJ Perez added nine and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser with the same output, including a one-handed dunk that gave the Philippines a 42-29 lead with 3:08 left in the first half.
Brandon Peterson had 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead Cambodia, which threatened at 59-64 in the final seven minutes.
But Brownlee and Perez answered back with consecutive baskets from beyond the arc to restore Gilas' lead back to 70-59.
Despite the loss, the silver medal was the first ever podium finish for Cambodia.
Earlier, Thailand earned its payback against Indonesia via an 83-69 win in the battle for the bronze medal.
The Thais, who were beaten by the Patriots, 87-69, in the battle for the no.1 seed in Group B during the preliminary, reached the podium for the fourth straight SEA Games following a runner-up finish to Gilas during the 2019 edition in Manila.
It was a sorry loss for Indonesia, which won the gold in Hanoi, Vietnam last year, but failed to defend the title after losing to the Philippines in Monday night's semifinals, 84-76. (RG)
The scores
Philippines (80) - Brownlee 23, Newsome 16, Lassiter 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Perez 9, Standhardinger 9, Lastimosa 4, Tolentino 0, Ross 0, Philips 0, Mason 0.
Cambodia (69) - Peterson 18, Dorsey 17, Morgan 13, Pridgett 13, Lopes 2, Henderson 0, Ravuth 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22; 44-33: 64-51; 80-69.
