#SEAGames2015 Basketball Day Four Roundup

The semifinals cast of the #SEAGames2015 Men’s Basketball tournament became much clearer after today’s results. It’ll be the Philippines facing Thailand in one match-up, while Singapore takes on dangerous Indonesia in the other. Vietnam also broke through, notching its first win at the expense of lowly Myanmar.

Desmond Oh unloads his emotions after Singapore tops Group B.

Scores and Recaps:

Day 4
VIETNAM over MYANMAR, 96-68
Box scores.
- The Vietnamese finally broke into the win column with a victory over the Burmese. Vietnam led from start to finish in this one, thanks to the Herculean efforts of Han Minh Trieu and Thanh Nhan Nguyen. Trieu topped the Vietnamese scoring barrage with 33 points on 12/22 FG shooting. He made 7 triples. Thanh Nhan, meanwhile, added 23 markers to the tally on top of 11 rebounds. Coach Anthony Garbelotto’s wards led by as many as 38 points in this one, completely dominating Myanmar in every front. The Burmese were paced by Justin’s 24 points and Aung Myint’s 19-point, 11-rebound, double-double. 

Line of the Game: Han Minh Trieu (VIE) - 33pts, 7 triples, 4stls, 3rebs, 2asts, 12/22 FGs.

Thank Nhan Nguyen tries a reverse lay-up against Myanmar.

Myanmar's Justin 1 (yes, I know) goes up strong for a fastbreak lay-up.

INDONESIA over MALAYSIA, 67-59
Box scores.
- Indonesia beat Malaysia to finish the elimination round with a 2-1 record, which is good enough for them to advance to the next round of the competition. The Indons trailed in the first half of play, but they were able to mount a run that turned the tables on the Malaysians in the third period. It was a tight contest all throughout, but the wards of coach Fictor Roring proved to be steadier down the stretch. Andakara Dhyaksa led the way for Indonesia with 14 points in 18 minutes, while Sandy Kurniawan and half-Filipino Biboy Enguio added 13 and 11 markers respectively. Malaysia leaned on the heavy contributions of Ivan Yeo in this game. The young starting power forward paced the losing side with 19 points. Malaysia now misses a chance at finishing on the podium, but they, unlike Indonesia, will play in the 2015 FIBA Asia Men’s Championship later this year.

Line of the Game: Ivan Yeo (MAS) - 19pts, 4rebs, 1ast, 7/13 FGs.


PHILIPPINES over TIMOR LESTE, 126-21
Box scores.
- They say it ain’t over till the final buzzer, but, if we’re being completely frank, this one was over before the opening whistle. Timor-Leste just had no chance here as the team even got outscored by the youngest guy on the Philippine squad, Prince Rivero. Rivero, a veteran of Philippine youth teams from the past few years, made all but one of his 13 field goal attempts en route to a game-high 24 points. He was backstopped by 19 points from Kevin Ferrer, while Mac Belo added 15 markers and 8 rebounds.

It was an inconsequential game for both teams in terms of ranking implications, but the Philippines needed to sustain their momentum heading into the knockout semifinals, where they are set to face regional rival Thailand, which finished second in the 2013 SEA Games. 

Everyone expects no less than the gold medal for the Philippines, and their toughest tests are surely in front of them now. 

Line of the Game: Prince Rivero (PHI) - 24pts, 5rebs, 1ast, 12/13 FGs.


SINGAPORE over THAILAND, 65-58
Box scores.
- This match decided who would top Group B and avoid the Philippines in the crossover semifinals. That team was Singapore, which leaned on the second half heroics of Desmond Oh and Russel Low to eke out the tight win over a more veteran Thai quintet. Oh led the home team’s charge with 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Low proved to be a tower of power in the paint, putting up 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and EIGHT blocked shots. Singapore built a big lead in the first quarter but saw it evaporate as Thailand mounted a run in the second period. The contest remained close all throughout, but big plays in the clutch from the hosts ensured that they would come away with the W. Darongpan Apiromvilaichai and Danai Kongkum led the Thais with 13 and 12 points respectively.

Line of the Game: Russel Low (SIN) - 13pts, 9rebs, 8blks, 4asts, 2stls, 6/8 FGs.

Wong Wei Long leaps to save the ball in this bit of action from the Singapore-Thailand match.

Hanbin Ng of Singapore thwarts the lay-up of Thai big man Sukhdave Ghogar.

Thailand PF Danai Kongkum attacks the defense of Wu Qingde.

Images are from the SEA Games.


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