PHNOM PENH - Gilas Pilipinas suffered a 79-68 loss on Thursday at the hands of a Cambodian side that transformed from doormat to medal contender in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men's basketball thanks to a bundle of naturalized players.
With six tall, athletic players dominating both inside and out, the host team went off to a fiery start and opened as much as a 19-point lead against the many-time champions before a boisterous home crowd at Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2.
READ: MVP expresses disgust over 'disgraceful game'
Darrin Dorsey, one of the six naturalized players of Cambodia, scattered 22 points and shot 5-of-11 from threes, while Sayeed Pridgett had 17 points and seven rebounds in the host team's second win in a row.
The Filipinos never really got into any form or rhythm and it didn't help that most of the players, primarily naturalized player Justin Brownlee, gasped for air and battled cramps amid the sweltering heat inside the stadium.
Despite the loss, the Philippines, now 1-1 counting an opening victory over Malaysia, is still expected to secure a ticket to the crossover semifinals with a victory over Singapore on Saturday.
WATCH:
Christian Standhardinger had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Newsome had 11 points despite suffering a bad fall in the third quarter. He wasn't the only one as players from both sides struggled in the taraflex floor.
After going scoreless in the first half, Brownlee finished with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field in over-hot conditions at the Elephant Hall 2.
Gilas also shot themselves in the foot by making just 36 percent from the field.
The scores:
Cambodia 79 – Dorsey 22, Pridgett 17, Lopes 13, Peterson 11, Henderson 11, Ravuth 3, Morgan 2.
Philippines 68 – Standhardinger 14, Newsome 11, Brownlee 10, Perez 9, Tolentino 5, Lastimosa 4, Lassiter 4, M. Phillips 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Amos 3, Ross 0.
Quarters: 26-14; 47-31; 66-47; 79-68.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
