BANGKOK — Gilas Pilipinas weathered its toughest test so far in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, pulling away late to defeat a vastly improved Vietnam squad, 78-67, on Monday, December 15, at Nimibutr Stadium. The win secured the Philippines the top spot in Group A and a direct ticket to the semifinals.

Vietnam pushed the Filipinos to the brink after building a commanding second-quarter lead, forcing Gilas to dig deep on both ends of the floor. The Philippines trailed by as many as 14 points before slowly regaining control behind improved ball movement and defensive stops.

The victory lifted Gilas to a 2-0 record in group play, following its dominant win over Malaysia a day earlier. Vietnam, meanwhile, closed the group stage winless but left a strong impression with its discipline and shot-making.

Bolick, Erram ignite closing surge

Robert Bolick delivered when it mattered most, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to break Vietnam’s resistance. His back-to-back three-pointers sparked a decisive run that flipped a one-point deficit into a commanding lead.

Poy Erram followed Bolick’s burst with a timely triple of his own, as Gilas turned a tight contest into a 70-62 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. The sequence allowed the Philippines to finally create breathing room after three quarters of sustained pressure.

Erram finished with a team-high 15 points and five rebounds, while Matthew Wright added 14 points with steady perimeter shooting. Jamie Malonzo chipped in a double-digit scoring effort and controlled the boards during key stretches of the second half.

Vietnam tests Gilas resolve

Vietnam stunned the crowd early behind sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive interior play, racing to a 41-27 lead late in the second quarter. Guards Khoa Tran and center Huynh Phu Vinh Nguyen punished defensive lapses, repeatedly finding open looks.

Tran buried all three of his triples in the second period and finished with 19 points, while Nguyen matched that output and grabbed 12 rebounds. Their tandem forced Gilas to adjust defensively after a shaky first half.

Coach Norman Black acknowledged the challenge posed by Vietnam, citing defensive lapses that nearly cost the team the game. He stressed the need for sharper execution ahead of the semifinals, where the margin for error will be far smaller.

Gilas will now await its next opponent from Group B, which features host Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Myanmar. The semifinals are set later this week, with the Philippines aiming to turn survival into a statement run toward gold.