Gilas Pilipinas blows out Malaysia to open SEA Games title defense

Reigning champion Gilas Pilipinas aced its first test at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, routing Malaysia with a resounding 83-58 victory on Sunday at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The Filipinos shrugged off a flat start before unleashing a massive second-quarter storm to pull away for good from the Malaysians, kicking off the country's title defense on a strong note. 

Gilas is off to a 1-0 start in Group A while Malaysia fell to a 1-1 card. 

The Norman Black-mentored unit struggled to convert offensively in the opening frame with the Malaysians taking a slim 22-16 cushion to close out the first. 

Several heroes emerged for Gilas in a pivotal second quarter that ultimately made all the difference for the Philippines.

Trailing 26-22, Gilas went on a 20-0 barrage sparked and finished by Ray Parks Jr. A pair of his free throws ignited the surge and his three-pointer capped the big swing, giving the Philippines a 42-26 lead at halftime.

Malaysia would stage a fightback early in the third by pulling to within seven, 39-46, but Robert Bolick responded with a huge triple before getting help from the likes of Thirdy Ravena and Justin Chua as they closed out the period enjoying a 62-51 lead. 

It was all Gilas in the fourth with Bolick hitting another triple off a Parks dish while Jamie Malonzo buried one from beyond the arc to extend the lead to 74-57. 

Ravena and Parks provided the finishing blow as Gilas sent a statement to open their title defense bid. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News