Gilas Men explode late, Gilas Women roll on as Philippines opens SEA Games hoops campaign in style

Gilas Pilipinas stamped its authority on opening day of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games basketball competition with twin statements from both the men’s and women’s teams, turning Sunday at Nimibutr Stadium into a showcase of depth, discipline, and momentum-building performances.

What began as a tentative start for the Gilas Men quickly transformed into a rout once the Philippines found its rhythm. 

Trailing early and searching for flow, the Nationals flipped the game on its head with a devastating late-second-quarter assault that completely erased Malaysia’s confidence. 

A blistering 20–0 run just before halftime turned a six-point deficit into a commanding 42–26 advantage, setting the tone for an eventual 83–58 victory to open the campaign.

Ray Parks Jr. was at the center of the turnaround, torching the Malaysian defense during the decisive stretch and scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second quarter alone. 

His personal nine-point burst ignited the run before he punctuated the half with a late three-pointer that symbolized Gilas’ full takeover. 

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STATEMENT SENT

Defending champion Gilas Pilipinas Men bucked a slow start and sent an early message by dominating Malaysia by 25 POINTS in Group A of the SEA Games 2025 Thailand men’s 5×5 basketball tournament.#GilasPilipinas #2025SEAGames #SEAGames #SEAGamesThailand pic.twitter.com/W7cPCJMmKJ

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 14, 2025

ALL PINAY POWER

The Gilas Pilipinas Women overwhelm Singapore with a 33-point triumph, sweeping Group B and punching their ticket to the semifinals at the SEA Games 2025 Thailand women’s 5×5 basketball!#2025SEAGames #SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand pic.twitter.com/r4tPX2xRM8

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 14, 2025

Robert Bolick provided steady firepower and physicality with 17 points and six rebounds, while Thirdy Ravena anchored both ends with a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards as the Philippines cruised the rest of the way.

Earlier in the day, Gilas Pilipinas Women delivered an equally emphatic performance, dismantling Singapore 92–59 to complete a sweep of Group B and book an outright spot in the semifinals. 

The win followed a comeback victory over Malaysia and underscored the team’s continued dominance in regional play, marking their 13th straight top-four finish in SEA Games competition.

Powered by balanced scoring and relentless pace, the Filipinas left little doubt from start to finish. 

Kacey Dela Rosa led the charge with an efficient 22-point outing on 11-of-15 shooting, complemented by Sarah Heyn’s 14 points and all-around contributions. Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, and Jack Dignadice added stability and scoring punch as the Philippines controlled the game wire to wire.

With the group stage complete, Gilas Women now await the winner of the crossover knockout round, eyeing another deep run as their redemption campaign remains firmly intact.

From a thunderous men’s surge to a women’s team firing on all cylinders, Team Philippines’ basketball squads sent a clear message in Bangkok: the road to SEA Games glory will run straight through Gilas.

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