Cambodia has become the team to beat.
"Cambodia is the team to beat."
It's a surreal statement from Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes on Monday night after beating 2021 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Indonesia. The developments of the SEA Games must have been mind-boggling for anyone outside the region just tuning in.
But here we are. Cambodia, technically ranked 157 in the FIBA men's rankings, going up against world no. 40 Philippines, for the SEA Games basketball gold in a grudge match for Gilas.
The Philippine men's basketball team headed to Cambodia as the Redeem Team—aimed for one thing and one thing only—retake the SEA Games men's basketball gold medal. Only many fans thought it was going to be against their 2021 tormentor Indonesia. Gilas Pilipinas did beat Timnas in Cambodia—in the semifinals.
"Fifty percent of the job is done," Reyes told the media after the game. "But the toughest 50% remains."
"To give ourselves a chance to win, first we have to get there. And luckily we gave that ourselves."
The grudge match with Cambodia for the gold has been brewing ever since the start of the SEA Games, with the host country giving out passports and naturalizing players left and right for the biennial meet.
Gilas Pilipinas first felt the impact of this move when the Filipinos in the 3x3 squad squared up against three players from the United States wearing the Cambodian flag in the finals.
In the group stage of 5-on-5 basketball, Pinoy fans were heard chanting "USA! USA! USA!" against Cambodia.
"Look at their lineup. They're deep. They have seven-foot, six-foot-seven Americans, who are tall, who are athletic," Reyes pointed out.
The rough conditions—unfit practice facilities, unstable flooring, and the suffocating heat--took a toll on Gilas Pilipinas. It didn't help that Cambodia's coach, Harry Savaya, was very animated in provoking the crowd, even making a "night-night" gesture against the Filipinos.
What particularly earned the ire of the likes of Chris Ross, and even Gilas assistant coach Tim Cone, was Savaya choosing to call a timeout with 20.7 seconds left in the game even if they were up by 11 points.
"We're going to beat this team again," Reyes vowed to his players in the dugout after that loss. "This is the game we can afford to lose."
"Kita naman kaya natin," he said, pointing out their nine missed free throws, their 33 missed two-pointers, and their 15 missed three-point attempts.
"We knew that we'd get the chance at Cambodia again," Reyes reiterated on Monday.
And with Justin Brownlee getting used to the suffocating humidity and delivering his magic moments against Indonesia, Gilas Pilipinas might have a chance this time.
The gold medal match starts at 4:00 p.m., Philippine time, and will be aired on One Sports.
(With reports from Carlo Pamintuan, One Sports)