RP cagers devastate Malaysians

JOHORE, BAHRU, Malaysia -- Belle Corporation-Philippines clamped down on Malaysia's Petronas with a half-court trapping defense as it pulled off a 76-65 win in its opening game in the third Southeast Asia Basketball Association Champions' Cup here.

The RP Team, made up of nine members of the Metropolitan Basketball Association defending champion Manila Metrostars and the ageless Bobby Parks, broke the game open at 53-38 and weathered a Petronas rallyin a rousing debut in the tournament.

Parks tallied 26 points while Rommel Adducul, who turned 24 , logged 15 points to lead the team to victory.

Petronas-Malaysia, behind American import Enoch Davis, came to within eight points at 55-47 but it was the closest they could get.

"The boys were determined to win, more so because it was Rommel's birthday," said RP head coach David Zamar.

Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) auditor Tony Fabico, the delegation head, said the Belle-Philippines vs. Mahaka Saria Muda-Indonesia match Saturday could well be, for all practical purposes, the championship setto of the straight one-round robin tournament.

Under FIBA rules, a two-way tie is decided by the win-over-the-other rule. In the event of a 3-way tie for first place, the quotient system will apply.

Fabico said the Pinoys and Parks can't take the Indonesians lightly. "I can't see us disappointing our backers in this quest," Fabico said. The RP participation was forged through the MBA's releasing the Metrostars for the tournament and the National Basketball League (NBL), of which Willy Ocier of Belle Corporation is chairman, providing the logistics.

Adidas-Philippines provided the uniforms of the Belle Corp.-RP five.