GILAS Pilipinas booked a semifinal ticket after pulling off a 78-67 win over Vietnam in the men’s 5x5 basketball tournament of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Monday, Dec. 15, at the Nimibutr Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was Gilas’ second win in as many games, topping Group A to automatically advance to the Final 4, where its opponent is yet to be determined.

Robert Bolick starred in the win, nailing two clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter that finally put the hard-fighting Vietnam away. Bolick and Jamie Malonzo also sank crucial free throws down the stretch that sealed it for the Filipinos.

Bolick finished with 13 points, 10 came in the pivotal fourth quarter that enabled the Nationals to complete their comeback from 14 points down.

JP Erram was Gilas’ top scorer with 15 points while Matthew Wright added 14 markers.

Dang Kroa Tran and Huynh Phu Vinh Nguyen paced Vietnman with 19 markers each.(CCM)

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• #men’s 5x5 basketball
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• #Bangkok
• #Thailand
• #Robert Bolick
• #Jamie Malonzo
• #JP Erram
• #Matthew Wright
• #Dang Kroa Tran
• #Huynh Phu Vinh Nguyen
• #Group A
• #Final 4
• #comeback
• #clutch shots