FLASH REVIEW – In its quest to reclaim the basketball gold at the Southeast Asian Games, GILAS Pilipinas encountered a significant barrier on Thursday when it lost to host Cambodia in Elephant Hall 2 of the Morodok Techo National Stadium by a humiliating score of 79 to 68.

The Cambodian team, which defeated the Filipinos and handed them their first setback of the competition, outscored them by as many as 21 points. The Cambodian team was led by six players who had gained naturalized citizenship.

The Cambodians defeated the Filipinos in basketball for the first time ever in the Southeast Asian Games.

With a record of 2 to 0, the resounding victory by the home team put it alone at the top of Group A.

As Brownlee came to life and ignited the team’s offensive in the third period, the Filipinos began to put on a fight. The advantage was 50 to 40 after his three-point play.

The Cambodians responded, though, and went on an 11 to 0 run to take the game’s largest advantage at 61 to 40.

Only seven players, six of whom were naturalized, were used by the host nation.

Prior to the match, Calvin Oftana of the Gilas had already been injured. He was found to have a Grade 2 calf strain from the match against Malaysia.

With a record of 2 to 0, the resounding victory by the home team put it alone at the top of Group A.

As Brownlee came to life and ignited the team’s offensive in the third period, the Filipinos began to put on a fight. The advantage was 50 to 40 after his three-point play.

The Cambodians responded, though, and went on an 11 to 0 run to take the game’s largest advantage at 61 to 40.

Only seven players, six of whom were naturalized, were used by the host nation.

Prior to the match, Calvin Oftana of the Gilas had already been injured. He was found to have a Grade 2 calf strain from the match against Malaysia.