RP cagers too classy vs hosts; Pinays fall

HO CHI MINH (Via Globe Telecom) — It’s two down and three to go in Team Philippines’ expected championship romp in the 22nd SEA Games men’s basketball tournament here.

The Nationals nailed victory No. 2 with a 117-53 romp over the Vietnamese team which played so poorly they could fall easy prey even to a lowly college team back home.

But the women’s cagebelles ran into the sharp-shooting Malaysian squad as the defending champion stunned the Filipinas, 65-54, earlier in the day.

Coach Aric del Rosario’s boys scored almost at will, putting the game outcome beyond doubt right in the first quarter and reducing the game into a free-wheeling contest the rest of the way.

It’s 34-12 for the Filipinos after the first quarter, 66-20 at halftime and 92-37 after three full quarters.

What gave the Philippines some concern in the contest was when one-time PBL MVP winner Gary David took a bad fall and doubled up in pain midway through the first canto.

The prolific shooting guard from Lyceum was helped into the bench by his teammates and sat out the next three periods.

Curiously, more intensity was seen in the Military Zone 7 Gym gallery than the playing court with the hometown crowd, despite the poor game of their team, engaging the Filipino spectators in a cheering contest. Seen in the Philippine gallery were PBA players Romel Adducul and Enrico Villanueva.

"Happy ako dahil kahit mahina ang kalaban at maagang natapos ang laro, naglaro na maayos ang mga bata. Kailangan iyon in preparation for our games against tougher rivals Indonesia and Thailand," said Del Rosario.

Another Philippine romp is expected versus Singapore at 4:30 p.m. today. Then it’s Indonesia at tomorrow and finally Malaysia Saturday.

Seven RP players scored in double figures against the Vietnamese with James Yap and Ervin Sotto firing 17 apiece, Rich Alvarez and Allen Salangsang 16 each, Richard Melencio 12 and Celino Cruz and Ric Calimag 10 each.

Ranidel de Ocampo made only six points but hauled down 10 rebounds.

The Nationals were impressive shooting from the field, hitting at a 66-percent clip from the two-point zone and 50 percent from the three-point area.

The scores: RP 117 — Yap 17, Sotto 17, Alvarez 16, Salangsang 16, Melencio 12, Cruz 10, Calimag 10, Gonzales 7, De Ocampo 6, Madrid 4, David 2.

Vietnam 53 – To VT 15, Tiep Ri dani 6,Bui Thanh Binh 6, Le Minh Chi 5, Du Khac Tiep 5, Du Quoc Tai 4, Nguyen Quoc Huy 3, Luonhjg Chi Man 2, Nguyen Ngoc Hai 2, Quach Minh Sang 2, Trinh ND 2, Chong Paul 1.

Quarterscores: 34-12,66-20, 92-37, 117-53