AS expected, Gilas Pilipinas put on a show that smothered Myanmar, 147-40, catapulting the hosts in the early lead with Thailand and Indonesia in the first three games of the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Championship at the Araneta Coliseum last night.
It was blowout win like no other for coach Chot Reyes, something that Gilas rarely enjoys in an international competition.
“I told the players that a lot of times in international competition, tayo ang dehado. It’s very rare that we come into a game na tayo ang liyamado,” said Reyes.
And while the Filipinos were clearly the more talented team, not one member of the squad showed off, keeping the game simple and turning to an efficient running game to dominate their hapless rivals.
This got their Burmese so tired that they fell behind by as much as 25 points at the end of the first period, 32-7.
Calvin Abueva banged in 22 points for Gilas, including a three-point play at the end of the first 10 minutes, while RR Pogoy added 17 points, with his two of his three triples finding their range in the last 6:26 of the opening minutes of the game, giving the hosts a 17-0 lead very early in the contest.
Myanmar, with Aung Wana making 12 points, was forced to 38 turnovers throughout the game.
And they were held to just five points with their 21 percent field goal percentage.
Gilas went on to post a 37-point edge with 7:11 left, after Japeth Aguilar’s putback, 44-7.
June Mar Fajardo, who was hardly needed early in the game, knocked in 14 points, while Jio Jalalon and Troy Rosario sank 13 apiece.
