KUALA LUMPUR – Bracing up for their game against Malaysia, the Gilas cadets played relentlessly and ruthlessly against Myanmar, and fashioned out a 129-34 rout in the 29th SEA Games men’s basketball tournament at the MABA Stadium here Tuesday night.
The Filipinos hardly let up on their hapless rivals, dishing out an effort they hope to carry over to their game against the Malaysians at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
It’s a complete annihilation they performed before another huge cheering Filipino crowd, now including PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa, PBA board members Alfrancis Chua, Robert Non, Erick Arejola, Raymond Zorrilla, Silliman Sy, Partick Gregorio and Ryan Gregorio.
Alaska Milk player Carl Bryan Cruz, hardly without a rest from the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut, joined coach Jong Uichico’s rotation here, producing 12 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
With his supposed takeover of Cruz’s spot not happening, Mac Belo was to fly home right after the game to report back to his mother team Blackwater.
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But even with the arrival of Cruz, the Gilas cadet team still played shorthanded with Meralco guard Baser Amer resting a sore knee.
Just the 11 Gilas cadets, however, proved too much for Myanmar.
“It’s our respect to our opponents, our respect to the game. We could’ve done a different way, but we wanted to play hard and to play our game, hoping the effort carry over to the next game,” said Gilas coach Jong Uichico on their thorough beating of the Burmese.
“We’re getting ready for Malaysia especially as they’re the home team with the home crowd. We can’t take them lightly as we can’t take anybody here for granted,” Uichico also said.
So vicious were the Filipinos they held the Burmese to seven points in the opening quarter, three in the second and six in the next.
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Raymar Jose top scored with 20 points, Christian Standhardinger collected 12 points and 11 rebounds in yet another double-double game while Cruz contributed 12 markers and four rebounds in his SEAG debut.
Kobe Paras enjoyed his longest exposure from their Jones Cup stint, and the 6-foot-5 super athletic player showcased rim-rattling slams to highlight his 20-point game.
TNT KaTropa forward Troy Rosario, Meralco’s Chris Tolomia and Ginebra’s Kevin Ferrer chipped in at least 11 points each for Gilas which killed Myanmar, 59-6, on points off turnovers.
In applying pressing defense almost throughout, the Filipinos forced the Burmese to 41 turnovers.
The scores:
Philippines 129 – Jose 22, Paras 20, Rosario 14, Tolomia 13, Standhardinger 12, Cruz 12, Ferrer 11, Pessumal 9, Parks 7, Vosotros 5, Ravena 4.
Myanmar 34 – Kyaw 12, Ja 8, Wai 4, Aye 2, Min 2, Aung 2, Zin 2, Han 2, Oo 0, Phyo 0.
Quarterscores: 31-7, 60-10, 98-16, 129-34
