Gilas Women def Malaysia, 77-63 [2023 SEA Games | May 15, 2023]

Gilas Pilipinas Women survived a second-half scare by Thailand to emerge victorious in their penultimate game, 82-70, in women’s basketball of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Morodok Techo Stadium on Sunday, May 14.

After leading by double figures most of the first half, Gilas Women started off slow in the third period and saw their 8-point halftime lead, 46-38, cut to just a single possession, 49-47, with 6 minutes to play in the quarter.

Gilas Women managed to regain their bearings and pushed their lead back to twin digits, 64-53, at the end of the third salvo, before Thailand came roaring back once again, trimming the deficit to just 5, 63-68, at the 6:39 mark of the final frame.

Unfortunately for Thailand, Afril Bernardino took over and quickly responded with a personal 6-0 run to stretch the Philippines’ lead once more to 11, 74-63, and put the Thais away for good.

Bernandino showed the way for Gilas Women – who improved to 4-1 – with 18 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Gilas Women – who saw their three-peat gold-medal hopes come to an end after Indonesia remained unbeaten at 5-0 – will look to take home the silver medal when they face Malaysia in their final game tomorrow, May 15 at 12 pm, Manila time.