Gilas bucks slow start, pummels Malaysia to kick off SEA Games title defense

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Gilas Pilipinas recovered from a slow start to extinguish Malaysia, 83-58, in its 2025 Southeast Asian Games opener at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday, December 14. 

Ray Parks showed the way with 18 points, half of which came in a blistering 20-0 run to end the first half that paved the way for the Philippines to improve to 1-0 in Group A.

Robert Bolick backstopped Parks with 17 points, while Thirdy Ravena added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the hastily-assembled squad that underwent multiple lineup revisions due to the hosts’ flip-flopping on eligibility rules.

Gilas trailed by as many as 7 points in the opening quarter, 15-22, but flipped the switch in the second period, where it outscored Malaysia 26-4 to take a 42-26 lead at halftime.

That second frame included a 20-0 finish sparked by 9 straight points from Parks and the Filipinos never looked back.

Malaysia remained within shouting distance trailing 51-62 at the end of the third quarter, but Gilas reasserted control en route to the 25-point romp.

“We have to get better as the tournament goes on. This is actually our first game as a group. When I say first game, I mean this is really our first game,” Gilas head coach Norman Black told Filipino reporters in Bangkok.

“Defensively, we played well in the second and fourth quarters. First and third quarter, we weren’t that good. So we just work to improve.”

Malaysia dropped to 1-1. 

Gilas immediately plunges back to action on Monday, December 15, as it shoots for a 2-0 record against Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Gilas Women climbed to 2-0 on Sunday following 92-59 beating of Singapore led by Kacey dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa finished with 22 points and 6 rebounds.

The Scores

Philippines 83 – Parks 18, Bolick 17, Ravena 13, Panopio 7, Malonzo 7, Erram 7, Wright 5, Chua 4, Pessumal 3, Tratter 2, Manzano 0, Pre 0.

Malaysia 58 – Ting 21, J.K.C. Wong 13, Chin 9, J.S.W.L. Lee 7, Mahadevan 3, Yong 3, J.H. Lee 2, De 0, Chang 0, Ooi 0, Wong 0.

Quarters: 16-22, 42-26, 62-51, 83-58.

– Rappler.com