The Philippine men’s national basketball team in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Sinag Pilipinas or the Gilas Pilipinas Cadets captured the gold medal in the competition against the vastly improved Indonesian side who posed a challenge against the nationals until the final quarter of the game. The SEA Games basketball finals between the Philippines and Indonesia ended with the final score of 72-64 in favor of the Filipinos.
The gold medal finished of the men’s basketball team of the Philippines extended the country’s supremacy in the region as they claimed the 28th SEA Games basketball title.
Veteran UAAP stars Mark Belo and Kiefer Ravena stood up for the Gilas Cadets who experienced another meltdown on Monday night, the first heavily contested match of the Gilas Cadets was against the Thailand national squad in the semi-finals of the competition when they were challenged until the very end of the game.
The Philippines gold medal in the men’s basketball competition of the SEA Games is the Filipinos 17th cage crown in the biennial meet. During the finals game against Indonesia, the Gilas Cadets were ahead by double-digit, but they saw their lead evaporates with Rony Gunawan’s jumper pulling the Indonesians within three points halfway through the final period.
The men’s basketball game is the final game of the SEA Games for the 462-athlete delegation of the Philippines who went home on the wings of victory after two weeks of competition. The Philippine Team brought home a total of 29 gold, 36 silver and 66 bronze medal, good for sixth overall among 11 countries.
For the Philippine men’s basketball dominance in the basketball competition, the Filipinos won every competition since its debut in 1977 Kuala Lumpuer games, the only SEA Games wherein the Philippines settled for silver was during the 1989 SEA Games against the Malaysian squad.
Watch the Video Report of Sinag Pilipinas vs. Indonesia Highlights: