Gilas Pilipinas drubs host Vietnam to book fourth win in a row in SEA Games basketball tilt

The Philippine national men's basketball team used a huge second half to fend off host Vietnam, 88-60, and keep its spotless record intact at the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Gilas Pilipinas, who marched into the game sporting a clean 3-0 win-loss record, was led by June Mar Fajardo in the first half as the big man poured in 12 points in the first two quarters of action.

The Filipinos were protecting just a nine-point lead at the half, 42-33. Prior to that, the Vietnamese cagers were able to close the gap by just three, 27-30, after a triple by Vinh Nguyen Huynh Phu.

Then the Filipinos pulled away in the third.

They opened the frame with a 6-0 run before ending the period ahead by 15, 62-47, with youngster Lebron Lopez and Kib Montalbo leading their closing barrage.

Fajardo again starred in the payoff period, notching five straight points for a 74-50 lead before bench players Jaydee Tungcab, RR Pogoy, and Will Navarro sealed the fourth win for Gilas.

Fajardo had another impressive statline of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and a steal as Gilas cruised to their fourth win while Kiefer Ravena and Lopez had 12 markers each.

The Philippines previously took care of its first three assignments against Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore.

—JMB, GMA News