PHNOM PENH — The 3×3 side of Gilas Pilipinas’ redemption drive in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games ended in tatters.
Twice.
Gilas men’s 3×3 fell short of its bid to reclaim the lost crown after a disappointing bronze last time, bowing to a Cambodian squad composed of three American-born naturalized players, 20-15, in their last shot at glory at Morodok Techo Stadium’s Elephant Hall 2.
Its female counterpart suffered the same fate, falling to a well-oiled Vietnamese opponent in the finale, 21-16.
The twin losses in the half-court left a pall of gloom as the Gilas Pilipinas 5-on-5 squad prepares to kickstart its own “redeem” campaign on Tuesday against Malaysia.
Almond Vosotros (six points), Joseph Sedurifa (four), Lervin Flores (four) and Joseph Eriobu (one) fought valiantly but the host team’s taller and heftier crew proved too much to overcome in the end.
Sayeed Pridgett, a 6-foot-6 product of Montana, dropped 10 while 6-foot-8 Brandon Peterson banged in six and 6-foot-2 Darrin Dorsey posted four in breaking the hearts of Gilas men’s 3×3. Tep Chhorath, the only local in the Cambodian team, hardly saw action and went scoreless.
“Everybody knows puro import sila pero we played our best, ” said Gilas 3×3 coach Lester del Rosario, whose charges rallied from an 11-6 deficit and went to within 17-15 before Mr. Pridgett pulled the plug with a dagger deuce and a layup.
Mr. Del Rosario said the team had to scramble on scouting the said naturalized players, whose participation was only announced during the technical meeting here. Unlike FIBA-sanctioned meets, the Cambodia SEAG allows teams to field as many naturalized players as long as they have passports, regardless of the date of issue.
Following this experience, he said the team may consider tapping naturalized players for SEAG 3×3 in the future.
If anything, Gilas 3×3’s experience with Cambodia’s import-laden team gave coach Chot Reyes’ Gilas 5 a clearer look of their Group A opponent on May 11. — Olmin Leyba
