Matthew Wright and Marcio Lassiter combined for eight 3-pointers as Gilas Pilipinas used a dizzying offensive outburst in the second quarter Friday to cruise past Myanmar 136-67 and set up a semifinal matchup against Indonesia and former Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.
The Philippines finish Group A with a 3-0 record, followed by Vietnam at 2-1. Myanmar finished the preliminary round 0-3, while Singapore finished 1-2. Gilas Pilipinas will face Indonesia in the crossover semifinals that start Monday. Indonesia finished Group B second at 2-1, behind Thailand at 3-0. Thailand will face Vietnam in the other semifinal match.
Toroman is looking forward to facing Gilas Pilipinas but acknowledges it will be difficult. Toroman believes this version of Gilas Pilipinas under Tim Cone is better than the squad that went winless at the FIBA World Cup in China.
"They have chemistry, they have quality, they have a new coach," Toroman said. "I don't think the team in the World Cup had chemistry. Maybe they had more individual quality ... with [Andray] Blatche, but when Blatche is not there, well, this team has special chemistry."
Toroman pointed out the Philippines' SEA Games squad has outside shooters Lassiter and Wright. Both players missed the FIBA World Cup due to injuries.
That outside shooting was on full display against Myanmar. Wright scored 20 of his 29 points for Gilas in the first half. Lassiter added 15 in the first half. Wright and Lassiter were responsible for Gilas' 45-12 second-quarter scoring run.
"In the beginning, we didn't find that good balance. We were taking it too easy, and that way, we were not respecting game either," Cone said. "But then we turned it a bit in the second quarter with Marcio and Matt got us going, hit a number of threes."
Toroman coached the original Smart-Gilas national team from 2009-11 and knows Lassiter well.
"As you guys know, I played a lot with him (Toroman). I learned a lot and he helped me develop as a player," said Lassiter. "It would be great to play against him, but definitely, we're gonna play as hard as we can to get to the final round."
Cone recognizes Toroman's contribution to the Gilas program and is not taking Indonesia lightly in the win-or-go-home semis.
"We all know him, how great he's been with the original Gilas team with Mark Barroca, Marcio Lassiter ... so he was kinda the founder of the Gilas program," Cone said. "He coached in the PBA. We know how good he is, and we know how disciplined his teams are. Usually very great shooting teams."
Toroman and Indonesia want to use the SEA Games experience to build on a squad that is looking to secure a berth in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup. He is hopeful the Indonesian national team will have naturalized player Lester Prosper by February 2020.
Prosper reinforced Columbian Dyip during the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup and played as one of San Miguel Beermen's imports in the 2019 East Asia Super League Terriric 12 in Macau.
Indonesia had to field an all-local roster for the SEA Games asProsper failed to secure his naturalization papers in time.
Indonesia has been bunched alongside Gilas Pilipinas, Thailand, and South Korea in Group A of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Only the top two teams in each of the six groups advance to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, while the third placers battle it out for the final four spots.
THE SCORES
GILAS PILIPINAS 136- Wright 29, Manuel 24, Rosario 16, Lassiter 15, Ravena 15, Aguilar 12, Slaughter 10, Tenorio 9, Standhardinger 6, Ross 0.
MYANMAR 67- A. Myint 28, Chin. Ta 14, Justin 6, W. Aung 5, P. Sar 4, S. Tun Tun 4, Laja 4, S. Oo 0, T. Zaw 2, A. Hzaya 0, K. Htut 0
EXTRA DRIBBLES
Cone opted to rest PBA five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and Stanley Pringle.
The Filipinos had a near perfect game, turning the ball over just once. The lone turnover came from a bad pass by Christian Standhardinger.
As per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the only other time the Philippines played Myanmar in the SEA Games men's basketball was in the 2013 edition in Nay Pyi Taw. Led by amateur and college stars, the Philippines clobbered Myanmar, 118-43.