Nationals one win shy of crown

KUALA LUMPUR — Philippines-Cebuana Lhuillier unleashed the full weight of its might against a fumbling Vietnam side Wednesday night for a spectacular 99-48 victory which put the Nationals within a win away from retaining the Southeast Asian Basketball Championships crown here.

Another win Thursday night against Malaysia will give the Philippines the title as well as the transit pass to Harbin, China for the Asian Basketball Confederation Championships, which is also the Olympic qualifying event.

But just like in the first game against Thailand whom they beat, 83-56, the Filipinos needed time to rev up as they dealt with sporadic firings and trapping defense of the hard-fighting Vietnamese.

Coach Aric Del Rosario, sensing the lack of intensity among his wards in the first half, ordered an unforgiving full-court press against the Vietnamese, who still managed to stay to within 10 points, 30-40, at halftime.

"I told them that this game is theirs for the taking and we should grab this opportunity," said Del Rosario, who rewarded his players of a free afternoon Wednesday after winning over Thailand.

"Even if the Vietnamese were already having a hard time making shots we should make life even harder for them by applying the press," added assistant coach Dong Vergeire.

That ploy paid off as the Filipinos, applying the tough defense as if they were the ones behind, soon found a lot of fastbreak opportunities, converting most of them for a 55.84 percent field goal average.

On the other hand, Vietnam only managed to score 18 points in the second half (seven in the final quarter) as the Filipinos tormented the Vietnamese using their advantage in height and heft for a miserable 30.43 percent clip from the floor.

Gary David again starred for the Philippines, sponsored here by Cebuana Lhuillier and Malaysia Airlines, banging 21 points, while Chris Dennis Madrid, Emmerson Oreta and Ranidel De Ocampo chipped in double-digit scores.

Malaysia survived a big scare from Thailand before winning 74-66 to become the only other unbeaten team in the single-round robin event where the team with best record runs away with the title.