Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas sniper Matthew Wright against Vietnam in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo courtesy of POC Media Pool.

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<div style="line-height:1.5"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765779308932IMG_9537.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gilas Pilipinas sniper Matthew Wright against Vietnam in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. <em>Photo courtesy of POC Media Pool.</em></span></span></span></div><p>(<strong>UPDATED</strong>) Gilas Pilipinas is off to the semifinals of the men’s basketball 5-on-5 event of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.</p><p>The Philippines shrugged off a slow start to fend off Vietnam, 78-67, in their Monday afternoon matchup at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, a victory that allowed them to sweep the pool phase.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/14/seag-gilas-men-pull-away-from-malaysia-for-triumphant-start-1748"><strong>READ: Gilas Men pull away from Malaysia for triumphant start</strong></a></div><p>Leading the Nationals was JP Erram, who finished with 15 points, five rebounds, two steals, and a block. Also key were Robert Bolick, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, along with Matthew Wright and Jamie Malonzo, who tallied 14 and 10 points, respectively.</p><p>&quot;It was a hard-earned win,&quot; said Gilas head coach Norman Black, who needed Wright to come alive late in the first half to help erase a 14-point deficit. &quot;It was a difficult game for us. The Vietnamese team played very well, and we struggled defensively again.&quot;</p><p>Up next for Gilas, which is seeking to defend its SEA Games gold medal, is a semifinal matchup on Thursday against an opponent yet to be determined.</p><p>As they aim for their 20th gold medal in the biennial meet, Gilas will need to replicate their late-game execution against Vietnam.</p><p>With the Philippines clinging to a 64-62 lead, Bolick and Erram drilled back-to-back triples to stretch the margin to eight with under two minutes remaining.</p><p>Vietnam responded and trimmed the deficit to five, 72-67, but Bolick and Malonzo sealed the win by going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute.</p><p>Leading Vietnam were Huynh Phu Vinh Nguyen and Minh An Du, who scored 19 points apiece.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p><strong>Gilas Pilipinas 78</strong> – Erram 15, Wright 14, Bolick 13, Malonzo 10, Panopio 7, Parks 6, Ravena 5, Manzano 4, Chua 4, Tratter 0, Pessumal 0, Du 0.</p><p><strong>Vietnam 67</strong> – Hunyh Phu 19, Tran 19, Dierker 8, Vo 8, Dang 4, Truc Nhan 3, Young 2, Anh Kiet 2, Thanh Tam Dinh 2</p><p><strong>Quarterscores</strong>: 16-21; 37-41; 61-60; 78-67.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><br/></div>

<p>#2025SEAGames || #GilasPilipinas is off to the semifinals of the men’s basketball 5-on-5 event of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after fending off Vietnam.</p>

#2025SEAGames || #GilasPilipinas is off to the semifinals of the men’s basketball 5-on-5 event of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after fending off Vietnam.

SEAG: Gilas Men buck slow start, fend off pesky Vietnam to book semis ticket

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SEAG: Gilas Men buck slow start, fend off pesky Vietnam to book semis ticket

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 15, 2025 02:26 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 15, 2025 07:17 PM PHT

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Basketball

ABSSports

33rd Southeast Asian Games

2025 SEA Games

Gilas Pilipinas

Vietnam

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