Sweeps thais for SEABA title: RP reigns queen of hoops

MANILA, Philippines - Host Philippines ended long years of frustration in the international women’s cage scene as it outclassed Thailand, 76-54, to capture the seventh SEABA Women’s Championship crown yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Nationals fired 11 triples for the second straight day against the Thais and managed to put the 2009 champions inside game in check to pull off the victory, the country’s first ever since sending teams to the Southeast Asian Games in the 1970s, before a highly appreciative crowd.

“I give it to the girls, they played with so much intensity from start to finish. They followed our game plan both in defense and offense to the letter and showed their hunger to win,” said RP coach Haydee Ong.

The Discovery Perlas ng Pilipinas cagebelles broke free from a slim 37-36 with an 18-7 run for a confidence-boosting 55-43 bulge late in the third, their breakaway aided by the minor sprain suffered by Thai center Naruemol Banmoo, who sat out a good eight minutes of the period.

They continued to pour it on in the fourth with a 21-9 assault spearheaded by co-skipper Joan Grajales and Merenciana Arayi. They held the Thais to only four field goals in the payoff period, actually scoreless in the final 4:53.

“We won this championship through our defense. There were defensive lapses in the first half but we managed to adjust in the second half. We controlled their inside game and at the same time when their outside shooting did not fall, we got the rebounds and we ran the floor,” said Ong.

Thailand’s coach Xuan Min Zhao, for his part, said: “I have injured players so there were problems. But I will not dwell on this loss and look forward to the Asian Games,” said the Chinese mentor, whose team missed their top point guard Penphan Yothanan and Panurushthanon due to injuries.

While shooting 11-of-28 (39 percent) from three-point area, the Filipinas actually had more points inside the paint against the taller Thais, 24-12, and had more rebounds, 41-30.

Grajales led the way for RP with 14 points, including three triples, while Diana Jose added 12, nine from rainbow country. Arayi had 11.

Suksomwong paced the Thais with 21, 18 of them in the first half, while Banmoo chipped in 15.

With the win, the women’s team clinched the breakthrough title and surpassed its silver finish in the SEABA two years ago.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala also said they will try to lobby for the team’s late inclusion to the RP delegation to the Asian Games.

“It might be very difficult but I will bring it to POC’s attention,” Eala said.