Norman Black, Gilas make most of downtime to solve flat starts before SEA Games semis

Norman Black could only breathe a sigh of relief after Gilas Pilipinas sealed a hard-earned 78-67 win over Vietnam in the SEA Games 2025 on Monday, Dec. 15.

It was understandable.

The defending champions had to bleed to score their second victory and gain an outright semifinal seat in men’s basketball in Thailand.

“Like I said everything is a concern going forward, take a look at the team and try to figure out how we can improve,” said Gilas coach Norman Black.

For the second straight time, Gilas needed a while to get it going after trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half.

Fortunately for the Filipino crowd at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, the hastily-assembled squad staged an 18-1 uprising bridging the second and third quarters to get back in the game.

Robert Bolick needed to be at his best in the fourth period for Gilas to claim the much-needed victory which entails a couple of days rest.

Bolick rifled in 10 points in the said frame, including the last four free throws that concluded the nip-and-tuck affair.

Bolick finished with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a block for Gilas. But it was Poy Erram who topscored with 15 points he spiked with five rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Matthew Wright fired four triples for 14 points, while Jamie Malonzo had 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

As relieved as he was with the victory, Black knows there’s so much to do and improve for Gilas.

“We just got to play better. I don’t have any solutions for that right at his moment except we just have to play better at the start of the game,” he said.

—

Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.

He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.