MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has won 18 of 20 men’s basketball championships in the SEA Games since 1977, losing only to Malaysia in 1979 and 1989. The last Philippine defeat in the biennial conclave was in 1997 when Malaysia won, 76-72, in the run-up to the final in Jakarta. Since that setback, the Philippines has won 51 straight games in the SEA Games and a victory over nemesis Malaysia in Hanoi today will put Gilas in a title showdown against Indonesia tomorrow.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes will surely not take Malaysia lightly. Reyes’ brother Jun was at the forefront of the Philippine campaign in 1989 when Malaysia stunned the defending champion, 107-99, to claim its second SEA Games title. Jun hit 25 points but seven Malaysians scored in twin digits. Malaysia raced to a 57-44 halftime lead, extended the margin to 23 at 87-64 then staved off a late Philippine charge.
In 1997, Malaysia beat the Philippines but it seemed like coach Dong Vergeire held back to avoid a title clash with host Indonesia. The upset eliminated Indonesia from the final and the Philippines went on to win the gold by beating Malaysia, 96-86, in a rematch. Danny Ildefonso and Romel Adducul led the Philippine squad that year.
In Hanoi, Malaysia dropped a 95-92 OT heartbreaker to Indonesia and was crushed by Thailand, 92-45, before bouncing back to drub Cambodia, 63-41 and Singapore, 75-58. Malaysia is coached by former national cager Batumalai Guganeswaran. Key players are 6-4 Ting Chung Hong, 6-5 Wong Yi Hou, 6-6 Kwaan Yoong Jing, 6-7 Kwek Tian Yuan, 6-5 Cheng Zi Fueng and 5-10 Wee Yong Gan. Ting, 26, is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19.5 points and connecting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc in four games. Wong, 25, is averaging 11 points.
Malaysia likes to jack up triples and against Indonesia, knocked down 19 treys, including eight from Ting, in 54 attempts. In contrast, Gilas is struggling from distance, shooting 24.7 percent on 23 of 93. Malaysia Basketball Association president Datuk Lee Tian Hock recently disclosed plans of recruiting 10 to 20 12 and 13-year-old players from Bosnia and Serbia to turn into naturalized citizens for the national team. Hock said it’s a six-year plan to convert Malaysia into a SEA Games title contender.