Football-loving nation Indonesia dethroned the Philippines, where basketball is a religion, as the top basketball country in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asian Games
Three-decade reign of the Philippines in the SEA Games men’s 5×5 basketball has been ended.
Indonesia completed a six-game sweep of the competition to claim their first SEA Games gold medal in the men’s basketball after shocking the Gilas Pilipinas men with an 85-81 victory.
Matthew Wright led the Filipinos in scoring with 23, while six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo added 20 points and 9 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting. Thirdy Ravena added 17 points. Kiefer Ravena was the lone player to score off the bench (9 points).
The Indonesians were scorching hot from downtown, 13-of-31, compared to the Philippines’ 3-of-16 shooting. Naturalized and former NBA player Marques Bolden had a solid 18-point 10-rebound output.
The Philippines finished the round-robin tournament with a 5-1 win-loss record to settle for a silver medal, the first since 1989. This loss ended the 14-straight SEA Games gold medal in the men’s 5×5 basketball event.
📷 : Philippine Sports Commission / Philippine Olympic Committee
Philippine basketball in SEA Games.
The Philippines had swept the 5×5 and 3×3 basketball events in 2019, but only the Philippine women’s 5×5 team delivered the basketball gold medal this year.
Despite a tough 96-93 loss against Malaysia, the Gilas Women clinched the top spot when Vietnam defeated Malaysia. The Filipinas ended their campaign with a 4-1 win-loss record.
In 3×3, the men’s team settled for bronze while the women’s team missed the podium.
For former Gilas head coach and current Indonesia basketball director Rajko Toroman, “one mere loss does not mean that the Gilas program is not good.” He believes that the Philippines will make a better team for FIBA Asia. “They have a lot of options to change some of the guys and make a stronger team, while we cannot change anybody.”
More:
- Eumir Marcial completed his four-peat in the SEA Games by dominating Timor Leste’s Delio Anzaqeci Mouzinho via referee’s stoppage in the first round of the men’s middleweight boxing gold medal match.
- Ian Bautista regained his bantamweight crown via a unanimous decision against Myanmar’s Naing Latt in the gold medal round in the men’s boxing tournament.
UAAP Season 84
FEU ended its 13-year cheer dance title drought.
The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad paid homage to the rock icon Queen to bag the UAAP Cheer Dance Competition title. This is only the third time FEU won the CDC trophy and the first since 2009. Adamson Pep Squad and National University Pep Squad finished first and second runner-ups, respectively.
The participants performed shortened routines with fewer individuals compared to pre-pandemic. No live drums were allowed in the Mall of Asia Arena.
📷 : Philstar.com / Deejay Dumlao
Aquino stepped down as NU head coach.
Patrick Aquino has stepped down as head coach of the National University women’s basketball team after leading the Philippine women’s basketball team to the second straight gold medal in SEA Games. He led NU to six straight championships and currently holds the longest winning streak in any sports in the league with 96. Aris Dimaunahan will take over the program.
Aquino will focus on the Gilas Women 5×5 and 3×3 programs across all age categories. In addition, he is part of Ariel Vanguardia’s coaching staff in Blackwater.
NCAA Season 97
Letran swept Mapua in the NCAA men’s basketball finals.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran successfully defended the men’s basketball crown after winning over Mapua University in Game Two, 75-65. Rookie-MVP Rhenz Abando led the Knights to their 19th championship with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Finals MVP Jeo Ambohot had 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Louie Sangalang added 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists.
📷 : Noel Pabalate
Abando bagged the Rookie and the MVP awards. Former University of Santo Tomas star and Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Rhenz Abando was the biggest winner in this season of the NCAA men’s basketball after winning the Most Valuable Player and the Rookie of the Year awards. He averaged 15.7 points, and 6.4 rebounds while coming off the bench for the Knights.
List of men’s basketball awardees
Most Valuable Player
Rhenz Abando, Letran
Mythical Five
Rhenz Abando, Letran
Jeo Ambohot, Letran
Justin Arana, Arellano
JM Calma, San Sebastian
Will Gozum, Benilde
Defensive Player of the Year
Justin Arana, Arellano
All-Defensive Team
Jeo Ambohot, Letran
Justin Arana, Arellano
JM Calma, San Sebastian
Nat Cosejo, EAC
Will Gozum, Benilde
Omar Larupay, Lyceum
Most Improve Player
Paolo Hernandez, Mapua