NAY PYI TAW – Perlas Pilipinas made short work of Malaysia, 65-59, Monday to launch its 27th SEA Games campaign on a stirring note at the Zayar Thri Indoor Stadium here.
The Filipina cagebelles followed their game plan to the letter in seizing control from the get-go and building up a lead that reached as high as 20 points before going on cruise mode in the finish as coach Haydee Ong reserved her charges for the game against defending champion Thailand Tuesday.
"This is a good win going to the Thailand game," said Ong, who is bidding to end the Philippines' title drought in the event.
"They played together as we set out to do, our defense held and we were also able to break down their defense."
Merenciana Arayi's 14 points and Analyn Almazan's 12 paced the victors against the 13-time champion Malaysians.
The victory put the Filipinas on equal footing with Indonesia, 104-39 victor over Myanmar last Sunday, on top of the five-team field.
It also gave Perlas the much-needed confidence boost going to the game against Thailand, which claimed its second title in the biennial meer at the expense of the Filipinas last time in Jakarta.
"Pareho sila ng basic style ng Malaysia, which is drive-and-kick," said Ong. "So we've got to again tighten up on their drive-and-kick penetrations and use our quickness to full advantage."
Should they hurdle the defending champion Thailand, it should be smooth sailing for the Filipinas for the rest of the single-round affair as they next take on Indonesia on Sunday and Myanmar at competition's end Monday.