Cagers flawless, peerless in gold romp

HO CHI MINH (Via Globe Telecom)–The Philippine basketball team, formed and trained for the games for only one week, still proved to be a cut above the rest in the 22nd Southeast Asian Games, completing its romp with a masterful 90-61 win over Malaysia yesterday at the Military Zone 7 Gymnasium here.

The Nationals made good their promise of a big turnaround from their mediocre game versus the Indonesians Friday, inflicting the Malaysians a severe beating for a fitting climax in their five-game sweep of the one-round-robin event.

So dominating was the six-time defending champion Team Philippines that it swept the oppositions by an average winning margin of 32 points. It blasted Thailand, 85-49, Vietnam, 117-53, and Singapore, 97-56, before scrambling past Indonesia, 75-70.

"Naipakita natin dito na kapag may pagkakaisa, mayroon tayong patutunguhan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga liga na nagpahiram ng players nila sa national team. Dahil sa unity, nakuha natin ang championship," said the teary-eyed RP coach Aric del Rosario.

Del Rosario said they have regained some measure of respect after the debacle in the ABC men’s championship where most of the stars of the team were left in Manila.

"We’ve achieved our goal. And with a long-term program in place, I hope we continue winning in the international arena," said national team chief benefactor Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Lhuillier stressed his commitment to help the national team with a goal of making it to the Olympics possibly in Beijing in 2008. He said he’ll try to encourage the core of the team to stay together, foregoing plans to turn pro next year.

"We have to talk to them. Hopefully, with the program and our victory here, they would change their minds. We’ve offered them a long contract. The ball is now in their hands," he said.

Among the nationals planning to join the PBA draft are Ranidel de Ocampo, Ervin Sotto, Wesley Gonzales, Rich Alvarez and Gary David. James Yap said he’s still weighing his options.

After erecting another 30-point lead at 87-57 with a little over a minute left to play, the Nationals on the bench and the Filipino crowd at the gallery started to celebrate, giving high-fives while chanting "Phi-lip-pines, Phi-lip- pines, Phi-li-ppines."

Like in all its other games except against Indonesia, the Philippines actually settled the outcome of the game early as the Nationals darted to a 26-8 lead in the first quarter, stretched it to 45-26 at the half and posted its first lead of at least 30 at 58-28 midway through the third.

"Yung talo sa Indonesia ang nagpainit sa mga bata," said Del Rosario.

Back-up pointguard Dennis Madrid, who sat out their last two games with a groin injury, returned to action with aplomb with his outside sniping helping the team break the game apart right in the first half.

The Nationals sustained a torrid pace until they started to relax going into the closing minutes, committing a number of turnovers on the Malaysians’ pressing defense. Malaysia came within 22 points, 52-74, in the process.

After Del Rosario called a timeout, the Nationals returned to the court with their guards up and went on to complete a ghastly rout to the delight of the cheering Filipino migrants and workers in the venue.

"They’re the better team. They’re the best in Southeast Asia and probably in the whole Asian region with their professional players," said the Malaysia team American mentor Felton Sealy.

Earlier, the RP cagebelles settled for the bronze medal as it bowed to the Chinese-reinforced Singapore team, 40-44.

The Filipinas wavered under tremendous pressure down the stretch as they lost star player Emelia Vega on fouls with 2:52 left to play.