#2019SEAGames: Gilas Women open gold medal quest with close win over Indonesia

Host nation Philippines opened their campaign in the Women's Basketball tournament of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games with a close 63-56 win over Indonesia Thursday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Seeking to end their eight-year medal drought and searching for the elusive gold medal, Patrick Aquino's Gilas Women finally came over the hump to beat the Indonesians for the first time since 2013, where Cassie Tioseco led Haydee Ong's then-named Perlas to a 55-45 win in Naypyidaw.

Continuing their momentum after winning the maiden gold in 3x3, pint-sized gunner Janine Pontejos lead the Filipinas with 16 points, with Kelli Hayes added 12 on her SEA Games debut as the hosts came out of the slugfest against the team that knocked them out of the podium for the past two editions.

After trailing at the half, the Philippines went to work in the second half, outscoring them 32-22 including a 6-0 run to go ahead for good in the third.

Indonesia even inched closer to just two points in the early stage of the final frame, Hayes and Jack Danielle Animam scored huge buckets to put the game away.

Gilas Women feasted on the turnovers of the visitors, converting those 25 takeaways to 24 points off it, making up for the 33% shooting all game long while also getting the bench mob to work by outscoring them 19-11.

Yuni Anggraeni, the most wanted woman in the 2017 games in Kuala Lumpur lead Indonesia with 16 points.

The Scores:
PHILIPPINES 63 -- Pontejos 16, Hayes 12, Animam 9, Bernardino 7, Nabalan 7, Castillo 6, Jose 4, Prado 2, Cabinbin 0, Tongco 0, Castro 0, Chan 0
INDONESIA 56 -- Anggraeni 16, Sutijiono 10, Gabriel 8, Dewi 8, Wulan 7, Antonio 4, Retong 3, Wongsohardjo 0, Widyami 0, Kahol 0, Lovita 0
Quarter scores: 15-15, 31-34, 47-45, 63-56

File photo by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas