Phl five opens bid in SEAG vs Cambodia

JAKARTA – The Philippine quintet makes its keenly awaited debut in the 26th SEA Games versus Cambodia today, promising to get down to serious business right away and live up to its reputation as the region’s basketball kingpin.

Despite a short three-week training, the Nationals set out as the top favorites here with a talent-laden roster composed of collegiate players and Smart Gilas veterans.

The Phl women’s team, hoping to sustain its SEABA breakthrough last year, likewise starts its campaign today, facing defending champion Malaysia.

The Filipinos play the Cambodians at 11 a.m. (12 noon in Manila) then the Filipinas battle the Malaysians at 1 p.m. at the Britama SportMal in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta.

Pending the approval of the organizers, NCAA MVP David Marcelo, a late addition, is joining Chris Tiu, Greg Slaughter, Jake Pascual, Chris Ellis, Garvo Lanete, Emman Monfort, Cliff Hodge, Bobby Ray Parks, RR Garcia, Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva in the men’s Final 12.

Relegated as reserves are UST stars Jeric Fortuna and Jeric Teng, and Ateneo mainstay Justin Chua.

The core of that SEABA-winning crew, led by Joan Grajales, Casey Tioseco, Melissa Jacob, Merenciana Arayi, Diana Jose, and Aurora Adriano, will suit up anew as the Filipinas aim to improve on their bronze-medal finish in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2007.

Completing Phl women’s lineup are Annalyn Almazan, Chivi Borja, Maria Lalaine Flormata, Treena Anne Therese Lingenco, Angeli Jo Gloriani.

Team rosters were to be finalized during the team managers’ meeting yesterday afternoon.

If Marcelo’s inclusion is disapproved, Chua comes in as the 12th man.

But whoever makes it, coach Norman Black is confident he’s got a lineup well capable of stretching the Philippines’ long reign as the SEAG cage champ.

As among the country’s biggest pride in the biennial meet, the Phl quintet ran roughshod over the oppositions in each staging of the games since being upset by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in 1989.

Since then, the Philippines only missed the basketball gold when the event was not played in Manila in 2005 and in Laos in 2009.

The current team has ceiling, quickness and firepower that hopefully can cover for its lack of training.

The Nationals didn’t play a single tournament in their buildup for the SEAG. They made do with five tune-up matches with Cebuana Lhuillier, Cobra and SMC Pilipinas.