Filipino cagers to exorcise ghost of ’89

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — After a long and excruciating wait that spanned for 12 years, the Philippine men’s basketball team finally confronts the ghost of its past as it plays the very team that inflicted such harrowing experience in 1989 in the basketball finals of the 21st Southeast Asian Games here.

The Nationals showed their readiness to defend the crown against host Malaysia and erase the specter of one of their rare but bitter losses in regional cage wars as they were heavily favored to beat Singapore late last night.

They expect all kinds of dirty tactics from the Malaysians but coach Boycie Zamar said they’re ready to go for the kill, raring to make the Malaysians pay for their upset of the Filipinos in 1989.

The RP-Malaysia tussle is set at 8 p.m. at the MABA Stadium and it is expected to generate so much excitement, emotion and lots of interest from the basketball watchers here though the Philippines has long been virtually assured of the precious gold medal.

Filipino sports officials are requesting the hosts to put up a video wall outside MABA Stadium since the 3,000-seater venue may not be able to accommodate throngs of Filipino supporters who will watch the game.

The Malaysians have their own battle cry — to salvage the bronze medal and provide some solace and lessen the personal pain of American coach Felton Sealey who seemed devastated by the terrorists attack in the United States Tuesday.

The Malaysians will ride a new wave of confidence going into the match as they scored a 77-76 thriller over the Thais Thursday.

"Lahat ng kalokohan gagawin niyang mga iyan. Actually, marami nang panggugulang na ginawa sa atin. But we’re ready to conquer them in their own backyard," said Zamar.

If his shooters get going, Zamar finds no reason why they can’t put the game right away from the host team.

He said: "That will be the key. If we hit our outside shots, then the game will be over early. It’s a given that Romel Adducul, Omanzie Rodriguez and Eddie Laure will dominate the paint. Our rivals will surely sag on them. So, if our outside gunners make their shots, we’ll open up their interior defense."

Except for Vince Hizon who’s hurting with a sprained ankle, all the other RP gunners — Chris Calaguio, Jomar Tierra and Chito Victolero — have been doing their job well. They had big contributions as the Nationals routed the Indons, 112-74, walloped the Vietnamese, 100-40, then thrashed the Thais, 94-65.

Also putting up big numbers for the Nationals are Adducul, Laure and Peter Martin.

Meanwhile, the Philippine women’s basketball team kissed their title hopes goodbye as they suffered a 77-61 bashing at the hands of Thailand yesterday.

What the Philippine men’s team did to the Thai men’s squad, the Thai ladies did to the Pinay cagers as they sent the latter reeling to their second straight loss following a 71-74 defeat to the Malaysians. The Thais and the Malaysians, both undefeated in three games, play in a virtual championship game at 6 p.m. today.