Filipino cagers stamp mark in 3×3 basketball

FILE: UNBEATEN. Gilas Pilipinas Men wave to the crowd after their win against Myanmar. They would go on to finish Day 1 of the Southeast Asian Games 3×3 event 4-0. (SEA Games pool photo via PNA)

MANILA — Living up to its billing, the Philippines scored a double win Sunday in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 3×3 basketball event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Gilas Pilipinas, the men’s team of the host squad, outlasted Indonesia 21-17 and then humbled Myanmar 21-10 to show the way in the debuting event that lured eight countries.

The Filipinas stamped their mark with a 21-4 demolition of Myanmar and returned later to score a pulsating 15-13 win over Malaysia.

The quartet of Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Jason Perkins and Moala Tautuaa bucked a poor start in beating Indonesia, with Perkins and Perez showing the way with 9 and 8 points, respectively.

“I feel happy with the win. It is just our second game in the tournament and it gets our feet a little bit wet. We have tough matches ahead and we just have to keep our focus. It is a great experience playing for flag and such an honor and pride having those people watching and cheering for us,” Newsome said.

Janine Pontejos showed the way against Malaysia in the women’s joust, sinking a long shot that enabled the Filipinas to surge ahead at 11-7 before Jack Daniel Animam and Clare Castro took charge to seal the victory.

 (PR)