The Philippines’ Kiefer Ravena tries to get pass two Indonesian defenders in the championship games of men’s basketball at the 26th SEA Games at the OCBC Arena Hall 1 of the Singapore Sports hub.
Nationals match 29-gold output in previous SEAG
The Gilas Cadets survived a feisty challenge that was put up by Indonesia to come away with the gold medal after a 72-64 victory in the finals of the 2015 Southeast Asian Games basketball competition last night at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
After barely getting past Thailand, 80-75, in the semifinals, the Gilas were once again put to the test by Indonesia, who held the country to their lowest point total in the tournament.
The Indonesians were within just three, 56-59, at the halfway mark of the final frame but Kiefer Ravena came up with a huge defensive stop that led to an uncontested dunk at the other end to put the Nationals up by five.
Long-time naturalized player Marcus Douthit added another jam while Ravena and Mac Belo sealed the deal with free-throws down the stretch. The gold medal was the Philippines’ 17th in the SEA Games.
Belo, the star forward of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, led the way with 22 points while Ravena finished with 12 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Troy Rosario chipped in 11 markers and five boards.
The basketball gold allowed the Philippines to match its 29-gold medal haul in the previous games in Burma.
The Philippines now has 29 golds, 36 silvers and 66 bronzes.
It climbed from a record low of seventh in 2013 to sixth this time with a tally that was well ahead of previous host Burma (11-24-30), but way behind Indonesia at fifth place (45-55-70).
Sepak takraw’s Jason Huerte, Emmanuel Escote and Rheyjey Ortouste blasted Singapore, 12-21, 21-19, 21-16, in the semis but bowed to Burma, 20-22, 21-13, 21-16, in the finals later in the evening to settle for silver in men’s doubles.
Squash added a bronze to the country’s tally after Ricky Espinola and David Pelino bowed to Indonesia’s Ade Furkon and Sandi Perdana, 11-8, 11-3, in the men’s jumbo doubles semifinals at Tanglin Club court 4.
The 34-year-old Espinola and the 21-year-old Pelino made it that far with superb victories over Singapore (11-4, 11-5) and Burma (11-2, 11-7) in the preliminaries.
Over at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Ronel Estanislao and Philip Escueta salvaged a bronze medal in men’s doubles badminton for the country’s first medal in the tough sport since 2003.
But the Filipino ran into a world class Indonesian pair of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo, who dealt them a 21-14, 21-12 beating in the semis.
OVERALL CHAMPS AGAIN
But while the Philippines scrounged for crumbs everywhere, Thailand is poised to the take overall title for a second straight time with 87 golds, followed closely by Singapore, which is having an all-time high in sports with 82.
The campaign that obviously lacked punch prompted Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia to make policies that would tighten the reins on the national coaches, who he said, should upgrade their knowledge and focus 100 percent on PH team.
The country doesn’t have any more contenders in the last day of competition today in what was decidedly an “epic fail” performance overall.
Athletes in badminton, volleyball and water polo are the only ones expected to attend the closing ceremony at the cavernous Singapore National Sports Hub stadium. /WITH A REPORT FROM THE INQUIRER
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