The Filipina cagers gave it their all in the gold medal match.
After a hard-fought battle against Cambodia to make it to the 3x3 gold medal match in the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Gilas Pilipinas Women dug deep to try and capture the crown against Vietnam. Unfortunately, Afril Bernardino, Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, and Mikka Cacho were unable to overcome their scrappy opponents.
Weathering a gritty effort by the Philippines, Vietnam won the gold medal, 21-16, on Sunday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Cambodia. Gilas Women seemed to be on the verge of finally taking the lead when Animam scored their 15th and 16th points through an and-1 play. They were only down by a point at that juncture. The relentless Vietnamese, however, were undeterred. In a matter of seconds, they were able to come up with consecutive buckets, including a long bomb and a couple of quick drives to the basket to seal the crown.
When asked about the team's immediate reaction after the loss, Bernardino didn't hide her disappointment."Parang tumahimik [kami] lahat. Hindi 'yun 'yung ine-expect namin na mangyayari," Bernardino told One Sports' Denise Tan. "Pero siguro, tanggapin na lang namin na natalo kami. Wala nang bawian 'yun e."
It didn’t help that they committed crucial errors during Vietnam’s late surge. Nonetheless, the silver medal finish was still a win for the Philippines after failing to make it to the podium in the regional meet last year.
"Tuloy pa rin 'yung laban na magkakasama kami. May five on five pa naman," said Bernardino, who has two SEA Games gold medals from the women's 5-on-5 event. "'Yung buong team na 'to, nandiyan para suportahan ang bawat isa. Hindi naman mabubuo ang team na 'to kung mag-isa ka lang. Dapat buo kayo."
RELATED STORY: Jack Animam gives preview of what went down in Gilas Pilipinas Women’s bubble training ahead of SEA Games
Highlighted by Bernardino's game-winner against the host country in the penultimate stage, the Filipinas cagers have a lot to be proud of in their spirited 3x3 campaign.