Gilas battles host Thailand for SEAG hoops gold

Sports

AS EXPECTED, Gilas Pilipinas will go through host country Thailand in its title-retention bid in the 5x5 men’s basketball tournament in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tip-off of the gold-medal match will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19.

Gilas and Thailand are both undefeated, going unbeaten in the elimination round before scoring contrasting wins in the semifinal round to arrange a championship date.

In the semifinal matches last Thursday, Dec. 18, Gilas, which topped Group A, narrowly escaped Indonesia, 71-68, while Thailand, the Group B leader, handily defeated Malaysia, 86-55.

By overcoming Indonesia, the Philippines stretched its record streak of consecutive top-two finishes in SEA Games history to 23.

Against Thailand, the Nationals will be gunning for a record-extending 23rd SEA Games title.

The Filipinos are expected to have their hands full against the emerging Thailanders, who are gunning for their first-ever SEAG gold.

Leading the Thais’ quest for history are towering the frontline of former B.League import Chanathip Jakrawan, Emmanuel Ejesu, and Ibrahim Dabi.

Freddie Lish is also expected to figure prominently for Thailand.

Lish, the 37-year-old guard who once played in the US NCAA Division I basketball at South Alabama, averaged 17.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals during the qualifiers.(CCM)