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NAKHON
RATCHASIMA—The Philippine women’s basketball team would
have to settle for the bronze medal in the 24th
Southeast Asian Games after the Filipino-foreigner-laced
squad absorbed its second loss, 74-56, to Malaysia
Wednesday.
The
Filipinas, hapless against the surprisingly quick and
accurate Malaysians, could only win one of its three
assignments in the Games—a 67-55 win over Singapore.
Host
Thailand and Malaysia, both unbeaten in two matches,
clash for the gold medal Thursday.
“Nagulat
kami but I think mas-appropriate na
natameme kami,” said head coach Fritz Gaston.
The
Malaysians jumped the gun on the Filipinas and posted a
15-point bubble at the half, 38-23. Gaston’s girls
managed to trim the gap to 10 on a three-pointer by Joan
Grajales and a basket by Filipino-American Vicky Brick,
but that was all they could muster.
The
Malaysians got back to their elements and went on to
post the game’s biggest lead at 66-47 with 3:23 left in
the match witnessed only by a handful at the Suranaree
University of Technology Stadium that included
Filipino-Syrian Amira Issa’s parents Mahmoud and Clarita
who flew in all the way from New York along with the
players’ two cousins.
“I
thought malakas kami, but they are more prepared
than us. Our Filipino-foreigners are not in shape at
ang anim na buwang preparasyon namin ay kulang pa,”
added Gaston.
The
Filipinas handily beat the Malaysians the first time
they met this year in the Southeast Asian Basketball
Association championships in Phuket, Thailand, where the
team finished second to the Thais. The team didn’t have
its Filipino-foreigners than.
On
Wednesday, a vastly improved Malaysian team showed up,
one that was quicker and sharper from the outside.
The
scores:
Malaysia
74—Chow Siao Foong, 16,Goh Beng Fong 14, Kew Sulk May
13, Teo Won Yuen 8, Beh Siew Lian 7, Yong Shin Min 6,
Low Bee Chuan 4, Pee Yann Yann 3, Hee Shook Ying 3, Chan
Ying Chee 0, Thoh Chai Ling 0, Lee Siew Fun 0.
Philippines 56—Grajales 13, Brick 10, Tioseco 7,
Tolentino 7, Jacob 6, Vega 6, Issa 6, Velancia 1, Jose
0, Narsiza 0, Adriano 0, Matsuno 0. |
