Harbour-RP battles old rival Malaysia

JAKARTA – The Philippines has old nemesis Malaysia as its first assignment in its return stint in FIBA play.

Harbour Centre-RP team, settling into its hotel here shortly before dusk yesterday after a tiring 10-hour journey from Manila with a brief stopover in Singapore, opens its campaign in the SEABA Champions Cup against Petronas of Malaysia today at the Britama Arena.

Although unfamiliar with their foes’ game, coach Junel Baculi and his troops are hopeful of a swashbuckling performance in the 4 p.m. game (5 p.m. in Manila) marking the Philippines’ return to FIBA-sanctioned events.

"We’re coming into the game not knowing our rivals but we’re confident we can handle them," said Baculi who has two Asian Champions Cup titles under his belt.

"We heard the Malaysians are fielding a Chinese import. If he’s good then our battle plan is to take the ball away from him," Baculi also said.

With the team managers’ meeting yet to be held, the RP squad, at press time, had no other information about the tourney except its schedule of games.

The Nationals, bankrolled by Harbour Centre owner Mikee Cojuangco, play the Vietnamese at 5 p.m. tomorrow then the Indonesians at 4 p.m. Friday. The one-game finale is set Saturday.

However, there were words that the host team has an American and an Australian as reinforcements. The Vietnamese are playing sans an import.

But the Malaysians could well be the team that could give the Philippines the toughest challenge.

Petronas has been a regular fixture in this tourney, boasting of three finishes inside the Magic Four in the Asian level since the Champions Cup, formerly Asian Inter-Club – was first held in Hong Kong in 1981.

The Malaysians were runners-up to the PBL-Andok’s team in Kuala Lumpur in 1995. They were third behind Sagesse (Lebanon) and Liaoning (China) in Beirut in 2000 and fourth behind Hapee Toothpaste (Philippines), Isuzu Lynx (Japan) and Guang Dong Winnerway (China) in Manila in 1996.

Baculi has tasked assistant coach Louie Alas to scout the Malaysians in their scheduled shoot-around session this morning.

Despite the long haul from Manila, Baculi had wanted to hold practice last night but there was no available venue. Instead, the Nationals will walk through their plays and patterns also this morning.

Harbour Centre-RP team must win the SEABA Champions Cup to give the all-pro national team a ticket to the Asian Champions Cup in Tehran next month.

The Philippines has won four championships in the Asian level.