The highly favored Filipinos frolicked from the outside and with a solid defense all game long, ran rings around the Thais who bled for their baskets at the Britama Sport Mall in Gelapa Gading.

“I think it was another game for the Philippines. Defense in the first half was very good,” said head coach Norman Black moments after the Filipinos notched their third-straight blowout in the tournament that’s making a comeback in the SEAG after being dropped from the Laos program in 2009.

“Defense was one of our concerns and I was more impressed that in fact, they really played as a team. We didn’t play a selfish basketball. But before the game, we just focused on one thing which is trying to establish our defense and making sure that we do not rely on our offense alone,” added Black.

Sinag completed a three-game sweep of Group A and would most probably play in the semifinals Malaysia, which is expected to emerge No. 2 in Group B after it was beaten already by Indonesia on Tuesday, 59-45.

Vietnam bounced back from back-to-back losses by demolishing Myanmar, 78-57, in the only other Group A match on Wednesday.

The scores:

Philippines 103—Hodge 15, Ravena 14, Salva 12, Ellis 11, Slaughter 11, Parks 10, Lanete 8, Garcia 7, Monfort 6, Tiu 6, Marcelo 3, Pascual 0.

Thailand 69—Apirom Vilachai 12, Chanachon Klahan 11, Danai Kongkum 8, Chaiwat kaedum 8, Mana Jantum 7, Supachai Sangthong 6, Ratdech Kruatiwa 5, Lertma Laiporn 5, Wutipong Dasom 3, Apirom V. 2.

Quarters: 24-13, 54-34, 75-49, 103-69.