Gilas Pilipinas Women took home the silver medal in the Women’s 5×5 Basketball Tournament of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after closing out the competition with a strong 77-63 win over Malaysia, Monday in Cambodia.

The Philippine team sent a strong message to the 2022 bronze medalists to start the game. Janine Pontejos, Camille Clarin, and Ella Fajardo hit consecutive shots from beyond the arc to form the bulk of a 12-4 opening run. Malaysia fought back to cut the lead down to just five points but Pontejos continued to strike from the outside to rebuild the team’s double-digit lead.

In the second period, it was Khate Castillo that powered the Gilas offense. She went on a personal 6-0 run that pushed the team’s lead even further up to 19. Gilas led by as many as 22 points, 59-21, early in the third period.

Malaysia tried to get back in the game in the final period, getting to within 10 points. Pontejos and Castillo shut the door on their opponents with key hits from the 3-point land to put Gilas back up by 17, securing the win.

Pontejos led the way in the silver-medal win with 24 points and five 3-pointers. Castillo scored 18 points and four 3-pointers of her own. Clarin added nine points and three triples as well.

Gilas finished the tournament with five wins in six games. Their lone loss came at the hands of eventual gold medalists, Indonesia.