BANGKOK — Southeast Asian Games basketball opened with a measured but convincing performance from Gilas Pilipinas, which shook off early shooting woes to overpower Malaysia, 83-58, and launch its title-retention bid on Sunday, December 14, in Thailand.

After a sluggish first quarter that saw the Filipinos trail 22-16, Gilas gradually imposed its size, defense, and depth, turning the contest around before halftime in front of a large Filipino crowd at Nimibutr Stadium.

The win placed Gilas in early control of Group A in the 33rd edition of the biennial meet, setting the tone for its push toward another regional gold medal.

Second-quarter burst flips the game

Gilas found its rhythm in the second period behind Ray Parks Jr., whose scoring surge completely altered the momentum of the game.

Parks poured in nine straight points as Gilas clamped down defensively, holding Malaysia to just four points in the quarter while unloading a 20-0 run that turned a deficit into a commanding advantage.

By halftime, the defending champions had built a 42-26 lead, fueled by Parks’ timely shot-making and a renewed defensive focus that stifled Malaysia’s perimeter attack.

Depth and defense seal opening victory

Parks finished with 18 points, including 12 during the decisive second-quarter stretch, while Robert Bolick added 17 points and Thirdy Ravena contributed a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Gilas briefly faced resistance in the third quarter as Malaysia trimmed the gap to nine behind John Khai Chiek Wong and Chun Hong Ting, but sustained pressure on both ends allowed the Filipinos to regain full control.

Bolick and Ravena spearheaded another offensive push in the fourth period, restoring a comfortable margin and closing the door on any comeback attempt.

Malaysia dropped to 1-1 in group play after opening the tournament with a win over Vietnam, while Gilas moved closer to an outright semifinals berth ahead of its matchup against Vietnam on Monday.