UTTER domination was what Thailand dealt the Philippine men's floorball team, doling out a 14-4 beatdown in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at UP CHK Gym.
The Filipinos could not replicate their dramatic 5-4 victory over Indonesia a day prior as they found themselves overwhelmed with the prowess of the opposing Thais, who made no qualms showing their full aggression to assert control for all three periods.
Alexander Rinefalk and Jeerayut Yaemyim scored three goals each that set up the rout for Thailand, which is looking to claim the gold medal this time after settling for the silver in the 2015 event in Singapore.
The Philippines, however, was able to save face thanks to goals from Christian Schoultze, Lucas Oijvall Perez, and Aristeo Perol II in the third period that sent the crowd home happy despite the 10-point losing spread.
The Filipinos get a day off to lick their wounds before resuming their quest for gold on Thursday against the powerhouse Singapore.
A quick 3-0 start for the bull-strong Thais, capped off by a heady connection play from Aphichet Ratanaprathum behind the goal to a sneaky Surapong Sangmongkhol goal at the seventh minute raised alarms on the part of the Filipinos.
Christofer Holland was able to get one back in the same minute off of an assist from Ryan Hallden Cater, but Thailand was just too powerful ending the first period ahead, 6-1.
Rinefalk, who was penalized to sit for five minutes for his hit on Cater with 3:27 left in the first period, came back with a vengeance, scoring two goals and assisting on another pair in the second period to make it a commanding 12-1 lead.
Aside from Rinefalk and Yaemyim, also scoring for the Thais were Pawat Thaidit, who got two, as well as one each from Veerasak Pimpa, Surapong Sangmongkhol, Santipong Sukkasem, Chusak Narkprasert, Watcharapon Onsuk, and Natthawut Dueankhao.
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