Hanoi—The Philippines failed to defend what many Filipinos back home label as the meet’s most important gold as it succumbed to a gritty Indonesian team, 81-85, in the 31st Southeast Asian Games’ basketball finals at the Tranh Tri Gymnasium on Sunday.
Led by naturalized player Marques Bolden and former Philippine team coach Rajko Toroman, the Indonesians snapped the Filipinos’ 13-time domination of the basketball competition in a streak that began during the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.
It was the Filipinos’ first loss in the basketball finals in 33 years since since the 1989 Kuala Lumpur edition, where the Malaysians romped off with the title.
The Indonesians completed a six-game sweep of the tournament for their first gold in the regional meet, with the Filipinos settling for the silver with a 5-1 card.
“Our players played their best,” Gilas coach Chot Reyes said after emerging from the dugout. “Indonesia came up with a very good game plan. They shot well from the three-point line. In the end, we just couldn’t match it.”
“Obviously that’s on me. I take full accountability and responsibility for the result. Like I said, they tried their best and that’s sports. That’s life. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we played,” Reyes added.
Bolden and Grahita converted five free throws in the dying minutes to complete their shock conquest of the Filipinos.
The 6’10” Bolden proved to be a thorn on the Philippine side as he hauled 10 rebounds and scored 10 points, including a banking shot to give the Indonesians a 78-70 lead in the final 3:33.
Matthew Wright, who led Gilas with 23 points, hit a clutch three as the Philippines threatened to within 79-81, with still 35 ticks left. But Wright flubbed what could have been the equalizer following an Indonesian turnover, leading to two freebies by Grahita for an 83-79 count.
And although Thirdy Ravena scored on a layup to put Gilas to within three at, 83-81, time was not on its side as Bolden made both free throws off a foul by Troy Rosario for the final score.
Fajardo led the Filipinos with 20 points, while Ravena added 17.
Gilas’ poor shooting at 43 percent, including a horrible 3-of-16 from three, proved to be their undoing.
Indonesia, on the other hand, shot 47% from the field including 13-of-31 from long distance.