Perlas Pilipinas was unable to handle a second half blast from the Indonesian squad as they suffered a tough 78-68 loss in the second day of 29th Southeast Asian Games’ women’s basketball on Monday night.
Spoiling the Filipinas on their expected picture-perfect record, the Indonesians were able pull their triggers and defensive efforts to deal the Perlas’ first loss in the round-robin match of women’s basketball tournament.
Trying to gain and sustain the momentum in the first period of action, the Perlas Pilipinas flawlessly exposed a solid scoring prowess and relentless defense to keep the game under their control while giving the Indonesians hard-time to put some score on the board.
The Indonesians, however, broke through the double-digit deficit barrier in the second canto through their collective efforts in the defensive end while facing the Perlas in a toe-to-toe scoring battle, ending into a narrowed gap for the Philippines, 41-34, at the end of half.
Tables were flipped at the second half as Perlas Pilipinas found themselves riding the snatched momentum of the energized Indonesian squad.
Perlas team was nailed into the side of the trailing team as they suffered Indonesia’s raining triples and clogging defense inside the paint — giving their counterparts a nine-point lead.
Unerring Indonesian team sustained their momentum in the fourth quarter and completed a second half surge to past the Perlas Pilipinas with a 10-point cushion, 78-68. | Tretch Melarpes – PTV
