SEA Games: Gilas Pilipinas opens title defense against Thailand

Gilas Pilipinas will open the Southeast Asian Games against Thailand on August 20, the only assignment that poses a threat for the defending champion in the group stage.

The Filipinos next face Myanmar, a team the Philippines beat by 107 points in the recent Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship.

After its tussle with the Burmese team on August 22, Gilas closes out the preliminary round against Malaysia on August 23.

While the Philippines leads Group A, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam comprise Group B.

The top two teams in each group advance to the crossover semifinal round.

In the SEABA tournament in May, it took a while for the Philippines to shake off Thailand, which kept in step with Gilas to start their game but lost steam as the game progressed.

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/25/17/sea-games-gilas-pilipinas-opens-title-defense-against-thailand