![Gilas Pilipinas [FIBA.com photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/gilas-1-400x200.jpg)
A year after the Philippines conceded the gold medal in men’s basketball to Indonesia during the rescheduled 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, ending a 52-game winning streak dating back to 1997, the country’s own version of the Redeem Team flies to Phnom Penh this May for the 32nd edition of the SEA Games with a mission so vital it couldn’t be overstated enough.
![Coach Leo Austria of the San Miguel Beermen. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PBA-Images17-400x200.jpg)
While everybody was going crazy as Chris Ross buried a killer trey, Leo Austria, with the action-star looks, remained calm and composed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, knowing that the final buzzer confirming San Miguel Beer’s return to the top as 2022 PBA Philippine Cup champion was still to sound.
As the final buzzer sounded inside the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam and Indonesia erupted into celebration at center court to celebrate a historic Southeast Asian (SEA) Games basketball title, Filipino sports fans back home knew something felt wrong.
For the first time since 1989, the Philippine men’s national 5-on-5 basketball team will not take home the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games.
Gilas Pilipinas pulled away in the fourth quarter to fend off host country Vietnam, 88-60 and stay undefeated in the 31st Southeast Asian Games Vietnam 2021 men’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament on Thursday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi.
On his 19th birthday, Francis “LeBron” Lopez put on a dunking clinic as Gilas Pilipinas made quick work of a lowly Cambodia side, 100-32 to go 2-0 in the 31st Southeast Asian Games Vietnam 2021 men’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi.
Gilas Pilipinas bucked off a slow start, banked on June Mar Fajardo’s dominance, and repulsed a scare from a gritty Thailand squad, 76-73 in their 31st Southeast Asian Games Vietnam 2021 men’s 5-on-5 basketball opener on Monday at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium in Hanoi.
On Monday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic has won the 2020-2021 regular season MVP award.
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