Gilas Pilipinas Women crush Singapore by 33 points to barge into 2025 SEA Games semis

Kacey Dela Rosa imposed her will down low, powering Gilas Pilipinas Women to a 92-59 rout of Singapore to remain unbeaten in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Sunday at Nimibutr Stadium in Thailand. 

The former two-time UAAP MVP sparked the fourth-quarter surge that sent the Philippines to a 33-point rout and into the semifinals stage of the biennial meet. 

The Filipinas, who ended the group stage with a clean 2-0 slate following their opening-day win against Malaysia, turned up the heat in the payoff period with Dela Rosa hitting a layup before her own steal and assist set the stage for a Louna Ozar corner triple. 

Young stars then took over in the endgame. 

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Heyn converted a Singapore turnover to a layup before another teen star Sophia Dignadice completed a mid-range jumper as they cruised to a massive 83-52 cushion. 

Heyn then made another basket and a three-pointer for a 90-57 lead while veteran Trina Guytingco sealed it with her own jumper that delivered the biggest lead at 92-57 en route to the win. 

Gilas Women, eager to surpass their silver medal finish in the last edition in Cambodia, now heads to the semifinals.

"Again, they were comfortable na. Yesterday was like, you know, getting out of the first game, second game, just letting them play a little bit," Gilas Pilipinas head coach Patrick Aquino told members of the POC Media Pool. 

"But, you know, we still have more to do. But, we're, again, dahan-dahan lang. One game at a time."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News