RP belles trip Uzbeks

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines outsteadied Uzbekistan, 81-73, to post its second win in three games for a share of the lead in Level II of the 23rd FIBA Asia Women’s Championship in Chennai, India Saturday.

Joan Grajales scored on an inside play then knocked down two charities off Irina Polunina’s unsportsmanlike foul to give the Philippines a 79-73 cushion in the stretch.

The 30-year-old Grajales finished with 22 points and also had six assists for Team RP.

The RP ladies actually had an erratic game as they turned the ball over 20 times in the first three quarters. But they put their act together in the fourth and toughened up on defense to pull off the victory.

Merenciana Arayi backed Grajales with 20 points.

Three other teams posted 2-1 records with Malaysia halting Kazakhstan’s two-game run with a 71-57 win and Lebanon blasting Sri Lanka, 96-54.