PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Thailand and Indonesia are on Gilas-Pilipinas’ radar screen but Singapore may end up throwing a curve ball in the Southeast Asian Games basketball competitions in Myanmar, assistant head coach Joshua Reyes said yesterday.
“Singapore beat a few PBA D-League teams and went on a tour of China and beat (Chinese) Division II squads,” said Reyes during the PSA Forum.
“They’re (Singaporeans) the biggest threat,” added Reyes.
Still, the Thais and Indonesians, traditional title contenders, are foes not to be taken for granted.
The Gilas-Pilipinas team will be made up mostly of cadet players plus Marcus Douthit, the 6-11 slotman of the men’s squad.
Collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kevin Alas, Jake and Kyle Pascual are the main men of the team and they’ve been practicing regularly to guarantee that the gold medal won’t slip away from their hands.
Gilas gets the chance to know whether Singapore is all bark than bite when they clash in the first day of hostilities on Dec. 9. Succeeding games will be against Cambodia on Dec. 10, Myanmar on Dec. 12, Thailand on Dec. 13, Indonesia on Dec. 14 and Myanmar on Dec. 15.
Meanwhile, the women’s team main concern seems to be how to overcome boredom as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas deputy executive director Bernie Atienza revealed during the same forum.
Atienza said the team was briefed by the SEAG task force and were assured of first-class accommodation in Nay Pyi Taw, the main hub of the SEA Games.
“It’s more of the boredom because according to the orientation, the hotels are all brand-new but that there are no restaurants, convenience stores,” said Atienza.
Head coach Heidi Ong said the team feels a lot of pressure.
“We are hoping to get the first gold medal for women’s basketball,” said Ong, who was joined by team manager Cynthia Tiu and two players.
yahoo.com
