04/12/2019
News: Gilas deals Singapore a 52-point beating in fiery SEA Games debut
Like a ruthless lion pinning down its hapless prey, Gilas Pilipinas men's national team tore Singapore to shreds with a 110-58 mauling to open its campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday.
Stanley Pringle didn't shy away from taking the lead for the Philippines, scoring the first eight points as he unloaded 11 in the first quarter alone, just two points short of Singapore's total output of 13 in the opening canto.
He finished with 14 points and five assists for the hosts dominant yet expected Group A opener.
Yet rout hardly bothered the audience, savoring every basket and seizing every opportunity to cheer, loudest for a couple of Japeth Aguilar highlight plays up top, a few short freebies for Christian Standhardinger, and the presence of the chubby Singaporean center Lavin Raj.
Everything was over but the shouting by the time five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo went to work, scoring eight of his 12 points in the second half, alongside six rebounds and two assists in just 17 minutes, before Greg Slaughter, Vic Manuel, and Troy Rosario put the finishing touches on this mauling the Philippines to swell the lead to its highest at 52 in the final spread.
Quite the luxury, really, for Southeast Asia's blue bloods in hoops.
And it's not as if the draw would get any harder, with Vietnam scheduled as Gilas' next foe on Friday, and Myanmar on Saturday.
Via spin.ph and gilas page
