Philippine national team stops Aussie pro squad
by Hector Santos - Nov 14, 2007
SINGAPORE—Like a David to a Goliath. Drawing strength from a once dormant defense and a vicious running game, Team Philippines slaughtered the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, Tuesday night before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Centre here.
SINGAPORE—Like a David to a Goliath.
Drawing strength from a once dormant defense and a vicious running game, Team Philippines slaughtered the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, Tuesday night before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Centre here.
Cheered by some 2,000 of their countrymen, the Nationals quickened the pace in the second half with a sleek attack and solid interior defense to pull the rug from under the Slingers, who led almost almost all throughout the match before disintegrating in the final stretch.
“The team showed mental toughness, they really want to prove something,” said an impressed RP team coach Junel Baculi.
RP also smothered the Singapore national squad, 90-42, Sunday, and a United States Navy selection, 105-58, Monday but Tuesday's victory was considered the biggest since the Slingers are an all-professional team competing in the tough, Australian-based National Basketball League.
“This is a huge, huge win,” said an ecstatic Harbour Centre team owner and amateur basketball godfather Mikee Romero.
So jubilant was Romero, who was here to personally oversee the team along with assistant manager Erick Arejola, that he gave each member of the team $100.
“They all worked and fought really hard, they deserve this bonus,” said Romero.
Reigning UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz, who mushroomed against the Aussie, American and Macedonian giants of the Slingers, came through with the biggest effort of the game—23 points and 12 rebounds that underscored how the RP big men matched up well with their bigger foes.
Fil-Am Alex Crisano had some unnecessary fouls but kept his cool enough to help the team with six points and five rebounds while Allan Salangsang, Chad Alonzo and Beau Belga combined for 23 points and 11 boards, performances that should bode well for an RP team going for the gold medal in the 24th Southeast Asian Games slated Dec. 7-13 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The small but lightning quick duo of Jason Castro and Al Vergara provided the spark as the two combined for 27 points and eight assists to ease the pressure off their big men inside.
Their biggest moments came late in the fourth quarter when Castro scored the basket that knotted the count at 90-all and Vergara, a late addition from Harbour Centre, drained a booming triple that gave RP the lead for good.
After the win, Filipinos—most of them came from work far and near—who came to watch the game hugged, shook hands and give high fives with the Nationals while some pose pictures with all the players with Crisano, Cruz, Castro, Vergara and Tiu getting the most accolades.
But Baculi and assistants Louie Alas, Ryan Dy and Beaujing Acot were quick to caution that they haven't achieved anything yet.
“Yes we're happy but we haven't accomplished anything yet, our real goal is to win the SEA Games gold in Thailand,” said Baculi.
The scores:
RP 100 - Cruz 23, Castro 16, Salangsang 12, Vergara 11, Alonzo 7, Tiu 7, Crisano 6, Belga 4, dela Cuesta 3, Bautista 2, Cabahug 0, Chan 0, Tan 0
Singapore Slingers 93 - Allen 15, Janev 15, Helms 13, Fitzgerald 11, Cameron 9, McDondald 9, Knight 9, Grizzard 8, Donaldson 0
Quarterscores: 12-23; 39-50; 67-72; 100-93
by Hector Santos - Nov 14, 2007
SINGAPORE—Like a David to a Goliath. Drawing strength from a once dormant defense and a vicious running game, Team Philippines slaughtered the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, Tuesday night before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Centre here.
SINGAPORE—Like a David to a Goliath.
Drawing strength from a once dormant defense and a vicious running game, Team Philippines slaughtered the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, Tuesday night before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Centre here.
Cheered by some 2,000 of their countrymen, the Nationals quickened the pace in the second half with a sleek attack and solid interior defense to pull the rug from under the Slingers, who led almost almost all throughout the match before disintegrating in the final stretch.
“The team showed mental toughness, they really want to prove something,” said an impressed RP team coach Junel Baculi.
RP also smothered the Singapore national squad, 90-42, Sunday, and a United States Navy selection, 105-58, Monday but Tuesday's victory was considered the biggest since the Slingers are an all-professional team competing in the tough, Australian-based National Basketball League.
“This is a huge, huge win,” said an ecstatic Harbour Centre team owner and amateur basketball godfather Mikee Romero.
So jubilant was Romero, who was here to personally oversee the team along with assistant manager Erick Arejola, that he gave each member of the team $100.
“They all worked and fought really hard, they deserve this bonus,” said Romero.
Reigning UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz, who mushroomed against the Aussie, American and Macedonian giants of the Slingers, came through with the biggest effort of the game—23 points and 12 rebounds that underscored how the RP big men matched up well with their bigger foes.
Fil-Am Alex Crisano had some unnecessary fouls but kept his cool enough to help the team with six points and five rebounds while Allan Salangsang, Chad Alonzo and Beau Belga combined for 23 points and 11 boards, performances that should bode well for an RP team going for the gold medal in the 24th Southeast Asian Games slated Dec. 7-13 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The small but lightning quick duo of Jason Castro and Al Vergara provided the spark as the two combined for 27 points and eight assists to ease the pressure off their big men inside.
Their biggest moments came late in the fourth quarter when Castro scored the basket that knotted the count at 90-all and Vergara, a late addition from Harbour Centre, drained a booming triple that gave RP the lead for good.
After the win, Filipinos—most of them came from work far and near—who came to watch the game hugged, shook hands and give high fives with the Nationals while some pose pictures with all the players with Crisano, Cruz, Castro, Vergara and Tiu getting the most accolades.
But Baculi and assistants Louie Alas, Ryan Dy and Beaujing Acot were quick to caution that they haven't achieved anything yet.
“Yes we're happy but we haven't accomplished anything yet, our real goal is to win the SEA Games gold in Thailand,” said Baculi.
The scores:
RP 100 - Cruz 23, Castro 16, Salangsang 12, Vergara 11, Alonzo 7, Tiu 7, Crisano 6, Belga 4, dela Cuesta 3, Bautista 2, Cabahug 0, Chan 0, Tan 0
Singapore Slingers 93 - Allen 15, Janev 15, Helms 13, Fitzgerald 11, Cameron 9, McDondald 9, Knight 9, Grizzard 8, Donaldson 0
Quarterscores: 12-23; 39-50; 67-72; 100-93
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