Men’s Team Standings

Group A                 W            L                              Group B                 W            L

Philippines            1              0                              Thailand                 1              0

Vietnam                 1              0                              Indonesia              0              1

Myanmar               0              1                              Cambodia             *              *

Singapore             0              1                              Malaysia                *              *

Games today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

1          06-Dec-2019 12:00        A          Team    Myanmar vs Singapore   Men      Prelims Mall of Asia Arena

2          06-Dec-2019 14:15        B          Team    Malaysia vs Cambodia   Men      Prelims Mall of Asia rena

3          06-Dec-2019 18:00        A          Team    Thailand vs Indonesia    Women Prelims Mall of Asia Arena

4          06-Dec-2019 20:15        A          Team    Philippines vs Vietnam   Men      Prelims Mall of Asia Arena

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas aim for group leadership tonight as the Nationals battle a vastly improved Vietnam at 8:15p.m. Thursday in the main game of scheduled four matches in men’s basketball competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the SM Mall of Arena in Pasay City.

Visiting Myanmar and Singapore clash for their first win in the opening match at 12:00 noon and will be followed by Malaysia and Cambodia at 2:15pm.

Thailand, which created an immediate impact with a huge upset over defending champion Malaysia on the opening day of the competition will battle Indonesia for the top seeding in the four nation women’s division at 6:00pm.

The Thais shocked the defending women’s champion, 70-47, Wednesday.

Gilas picked up their gold medal defense Wednesday with a dominating victory over Singapore, 110-58, and aim for their second straight win and top seeding in Group A today at 8:00 pm.

Despite Gilas Pilipinas huge win, head coach Timothy Earl Cone said he expect some more and still needs consistency inside the team.

“We’re a little bit herky-jerky. We weren’t smooth offensively. We had to make an adjustment at halftime,” said Cone, who admitted quite having jitters on his second stint as head coach of the national squad since 1998 Asian Games.

“I am a little bit anxious in the early minutes of the game getting the feel of being calling the shots again for the national team. I was still young then, but now I think I have gone wiser, and mature enough now for the games,” adds Cone.

Cone expect more from his wards in meeting Vietnam, which waylaid Myanmar, 131-52.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball tonight,” Cone said after the game against Singapore. “I feel like our guys came out and took a serious approach. I think they’re trying to show the country that they’re gonna take a serious approach and respect the game. When you respect the game, you respect your opponent,” said Cone.

Cone said he is wary of Thailand, which beat Indonesia, 98-76, and Malaysia.

“At this point, you can’t say anything on each team now just like Thailand beating considered title contender Indonesia. You can’t count out Malaysia which is constantly improving. We just played it by ear and have my other coaches do the scouting,” said Cone. (LO/IAMIGO/CNS)