#SEAGames2019: Gilas Women make SEA Games history, destroys Thailand for maiden gold

PASAY CITY -- AT LONG LAST.

History has been made at the Mall of Asia Arena on the penultimate day of the Southeast Asian Games, as hosts Philippines found gold for the very first time in women's basketball after demolishing Thailand, 91-71 Tuesday evening.

In what could have been the biggest game in the history of the women's game in the country that was mad with hoops since time immemorial, the Gilas Women of coach Patrick Henry Aquino finally broke the duopoly of their victims and Malaysia in the biennial regional meet with their solid demolition in a virtually one-sided affair.

Six years since we last won a medal (silver in 2013), the ladies have finally ended the drought in front of a raucous home crowd

Five women scored in double figures for the Philippines, with Jack Danielle Animam leading the way in a near-flawless 9/10 field goal shooting for 21 points.

While the former UAAP MVP was doing the damage from the inside, skipper Janine Pontejos ran circles around WNBA veteran Tiffany Bias as she backstopped Animam with 16 points while hitting half of her shots, with Afril Bernardino providing the hustle for a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double as Kelly Hayes added 11 and Khate Castillo pitched in 11 of her own from the bench.

It was a tight affair in the opening 20 minutes as Gilas pulled away first for the first double-digit spread at 18-7 when Pontejos hit the back end of her triple, but Bias' 13 first-half points put the Thais closer to within 2 at the break.

However, third quarter was a different beast when the Filipinas went to work, displaying their Asian elite brand of basketball as they held Bias scoreless and the Thais to just 9 points there to pull away with a 16-point lead.

Bias, the former Phoenix and New York guard scored the last two of her 15 points in the final frame, but she was helpless as she was saddled with foul trouble earlier on when Danica Jose put Gilas at their peak with a 21-point lead to open the celebrations as the curse was finally broken.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 91 - Animam 21, Pontejos 16, Hayes 11, Castillo 11, Bernardino 10, Cabinbin 7, Jose 6, Nabalan 5, Prado 2, Castro 2, Tongco 0, Chan 0.

THAILAND 71 - Bias 15, Kunchuan 12, Udomsuk 12, Yothanan 10, Kaichaiyapoom 5, Maihom 4, Supyen 3, Buapa 3, Klunbut 2, Phromrat 2, Sangmanee 0.

Quarter scores: 27-20, 45-43, 68-52, 91-71.

Photo by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas