#SEAGames2019: For Gilas Pilipinas, the rout of Indonesia has plenty of lessons ahead of the gold medal game

PASAY CITY --  The 97-70 rout of Indonesia was the closest host nation Philippines had in the entire Southeast Asian Games.

After being held back in the first 20 minutes, it was a huge explosion in the third that guaranteed them to the gold medal tiff against Thailand, and for coach Tim Cone he admitted that they have been well prepared by Rajko Toroman.

For the two-time Grand Slam winner in the PBA, Cone knows that the pioneer of the Gilas Pilipinas program has made itself prepared for the semifinal, after his team have obliterated Group A play with an average margin of 54 points. 

"The more you play, the better the teams have to scout you," he said of Indonesia, who was able to halve the average beating in their final four game.

 "And you get a coach like Rajko Toroman, he's gonna have his team thoroughly prepared," Cone added, as Gilas could not pull away until late in the second quarter as Indonesia matched every shot they made. "As you progressed, the coaching gets better. And it's harder. They really came to play."

Gilas endured a tough shooting night from the line, but made it up with balance scoring with a third of the team in double figures and all but skipper LA Tenorio hit at least one field goal for the game.

"We just have to play through it and move forward."

For Chris Ross, Monday night was his coming out party after only scoring a point in the entire group stage after scoring 11 off the bench on an 80% shooting from the field.

It was a half-time talk that turned the defensive lynch-pin into an offensive juggernaut, telling his teammates to calm down after their gritty first half.

"Guys, we got to relax. Let's go out and play," Cone said afterwards. "Listen to the guy who keys our defense."

"He has a uncanny knack for playing and doing what he has to do to pick up the team."

"We don't want to be known as an offensive team. We want to have our defense create our offense," Ross admitted.

Photo by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas