#SEAGames2019: Gilas overpower Indonesia to zoom into the gold medal game

PASAY CITY -- As predicted, host nation Philippines surged themselves into the gold medal game of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Men's Basketball Tournament, routing Indonesia 97-70 in the second semifinal Monday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In what could have been their toughest challenge in their quest for the 18th gold in the biennial competition, a second half breakaway propelled Gilas Pilipinas to its fourteenth consecutive gold medal game as they booked their date with Thailand, who won 101-95 against Vietnam earlier.

Coach Tim Cone banked on a balanced scoring, with half of the squad scoring at least 9 points in the game with Christian Stanhardinger leading the way with 14 points and Matthew Wright adding 13.

The Filipino bench mob also pitched in with Vic Manuel showing muscle with a dozen, and Chris Ross finally polished his armory by scoring eleven.

Gilas came out smoking from the opening tip, with Stanhardinger leading the charge with 10 first quarter points, but Juan Kokodiputra's 9 points from beyond the arc put the visitors only trailing by four as his last triple went in before the horn.

Kokodiputra, the power forward in IBL's Pelita Jaya led Indonesia with 20 points as all of his 6/13 field goals came from the long line.

The grind-out continued in the second quarter, in which Gilas had to buck a horrid trip to the foul line, only hitting 5/12 for the half before launching a 7-0 blitz to gets its first double-digit spread before settling for an eleven point advantage at the interval.

Any hope of an Indonesian rally ended in the third period, when the hosts unleashed a 16-0 bomb to turn an 8-point lead into a 63-39 blowout with Ross firing a troika of three-pointers to take the fight out of the visitors.

With the win already settled, Gilas even turned up the heat in the final frame where they lead by as much as 36, 83-47 on a turnaround jumper by Junemar Fajardo.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 97 -- Standhardinger 14, Wright 13, Manuel 12, Ross 11, Pringle 9, Fajardo 9, Lassiter 7, Rosario 7, Aguilar 6, Slaughter 6, Ravena 2, Tenorio 1.

INDONESIA 70 -- Kokodiputra 20, Grahita 14, Dhyaksa 11, Joni 11, Gemilang 6, Sitorus 4, Oei 2, Kokasih 2, Lakudu 0, Wicaksono 0.

Quarter scores: 24-20, 39-28, 78-45, 97-70

Photo by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas