Gilas Pilipinas fends off Vietnam to clinch SEA Games men's basketball semis spot

Gilas Pilipinas had to hold off a gritty Vietnam team to pull off a 78-67 escape and remain unbeaten in the 2025 SEA Games men's basketball on Monday at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The Filipinos overcame a flat start and turned things around late in the second quarter, only for Vietnam to mount a third-quarter surge. Gilas, however, fended off the scare behind clutch baskets from Robert Bolick in the fourth en route to the win.

With the win, Gilas has advanced to the semifinals to move within two wins of a title repeat.

Gilas found itself in a huge hole early in the second period when Tran Khoa punished them with three straight triples that sent Vietnam to a 41-27 lead. 

But the Filipinos suddenly caught fire, stepping up on defense led by youngster Cedrick Manzao as Matthew Wright buried a triple to fuel a 10-0 run to close out the first half trailing by just four, 37-41.

Wright opened up the third with another three-pointer while Jamie Malonzo converted two consecutive baskets to put the Philippines ahead by seven, 55-48. But Vietnam responded with a 12-6 swing to trim the deficit to just one before heading to the payoff period, 60-61. 

Bolick then just took over in the clutch. 

The NLEX star first hit a triple to give Gilas a slim 64-62 cushion early in the fourth as both teams traded turnovers and missed baskets in the next four minutes.

Bolick then stopped the bleeding by knocking down another long bomb before big man Poy Erram buried a triple of his own from the top of the key to make it a comfortable 70-62 cushion in the final 3:04. 

Malonzo cleaned up Wright's missed jumper as Bolick sank four straight free throws to provide the finishing blow against the no-quit Vietnam side. 

Erram top-scored with 15 points together with five rebounds, two steals, and one assist while Wright and Bolick churned out 14 and 13 markers apiece with the Road Warriors guard also grabbing six boards, four dimes, and one block. 

Malonzo chipped in 10 points while Blackwater rookie Dalph Panopio chimed in with seven markers, four rebounds, and three assists. 

Khoa, meanwhile, paced Vietnam with 19 points while Huynh Phu Vinh Nguyen posted 19 markers as well laced with 12 rebounds, two steals, and one assist to complete a double--double outing in the loss.

Gilas wrapped up the group stage with a clean 2-0 start in Group A following its 83-58 opening-day win over Malaysia.

The scores:

Gilas Pilipinas 78 - Erram 15, Wright 14, Bolick 13, Malonzo 10, Panopio 7, Parks 6, Ravena 5, Chua 4, Manzano 4, Tratter 0, Pessumal 0.

Vietnam 67 - Nguyen HPV 19, Tran 19, Vo 8, Dierker 8, Dang 4, Huynh 3, Dinh 2, Nguyen AK 2, Young 2, Du 0.

Quarters: 16-21, 37-41, 61-60, 78-67.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News