FedEx sinks Malaysia for third place

HONG KONG – A bronze medal that glitters like gold.

That’s what FedEx-RP is bringing home at the conclusion of the 14th Eastcolight Super Kung Sheung Cup International Invitational Championships at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

The Filipinos, ever so eager to live up to their billing as Southeast Asia’s best, showed too much class in beating newly-crowned SEABA champion Malaysia, 84-57, to finish third overall behind eventual champion Hong Kong and United States-based Asian American Sports Club.

"More than the third-place trophy we’re bringing home for the second straight year, we’re proud to have earned the respect of all the participating teams here for our gutsy performance," said FedEx-RP team coach Johny Tam.

Hong Kong bagged the title for the 13th year by beating AASC, 79-63, in a one-sided championship match.

Perennial national team mainstays Yung Kam-wah and Song Fong led the host-country’s five-game sweep, including three in the eliminations.

The Filipinos were clearly more talented, more experienced than their Australian-reinforced Malaysian counterparts.

Veterans Gary David, Wynne Arboleda and Egay Billiones carried the scoring load for the Filipinos, who went for the kill behind two long scoring splurges bridging the second and third periods.

The Filipinos, whose international campaign is fully supported by Accel and Bestank, unleashed a crippling 16-2 blast in the second period to erase a 21-24 deficit and seize control with a 37-26 lead to the delight of a sizable, flag-waving Filipino crowd that included Vice Consul Noel Novicio.