GILAS Pilipinas mounted a huge second half run to cruise past Vietnam, 110-69, and advance in the semifinal round of the men’s basketball tournament of the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
It was a close game in the first quarter until Gilas bigman June Mar Fajardo sparked an 11-1 run, capped by LA Tenorio’s three to end it with a 10-point lead, 27-17.
Gilas never looked back after that and continued the barrage, with Marcio Lassiter sinking a basket to punch their biggest lead, 110-66.
“They got hard in a hurry for us in the first quarter and into the second,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone. “But we got a little breathing space in the second half.”
Philippine Basketball Association’s five-time Most Valuable Player Fajardo led Gilas with 23 points, 12 boards in 15-minute action, Troy Rosario had 12 points, two boards. Tenorio added 14 points, Vic Manuel (14), Stangley Pringle (10), and Chris Ross (11).
Christopher Deicker finished a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort for Vietnam.