Gilas Men, Women win inaugural gold medals in SEA Games 3×3
Gilas Pilipinas delivered history in front of its home crowd, winning the first ever pair of gold medals for the 3×3 basketball event in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games on Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa powered the men’s squad over Indonesia in the men’s gold medal match, with his long twos pushing the nationals ahead 13-5 before scoring a dominant 21-9 victory.
Perez and Tautuaa were joined by Chris Newsome and Jason Perkins as the gold medalists for the Philippines.
They first swept the elimination round for a 6-0 record and beat Thailand in the semi-finals to set up a duel with Indonesia, which ousted Vietnam in their own semis duel.
Tautuaa stood out in the men’s competition as his bulky 6-7 frame was just too much for other team’s inside guys.
Meanwhile, Gilas Women avenged an elimination round defeat over Thailand to likewise win the top prize as promised.
The group composed of Jack Danielle Animam, Clare Castro, Afril Bernardino, and Janine Pontejos beat Thailand, 17-13 in the final, just moments after a close 22-20 defeat.
It was the first time 3×3, also an Olympic sport, was played as an official sport in the SEA Games.
By Levi Verora Jr.
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