RP faces China in adidas Asian Streetball final

The 2005 adidas Asian Streetball Finals fires off today with a promise of slambang action among 12 teams from five countries with the Philippines colliding with fancied China in both the boys and girls divisions in an early clash of the fancied bets at the Araneta Coliseum.

Represented by national champion San Beda College, RP Team-A faces a crack, tall squad from China led by 1.97-meter Yu Yu and 1.94-meter Zhang Kai in a fitting opener to an expected action-packed 3-on-3 duels among the best teams in the region.

Hostilities start at 11 a.m. after an elaborate opening rites at 10 a.m. to be graced by no less than NBA future star and Portland point guard Sebastian Telfair, who made a lasting impression on the young basketball players during the clinic he conducted yesterday at the Moro Lorenzo gym in Ateneo.

Admission is free, according to the sponsoring adidas Phils.

RP Team A is composed of Jay-R Tabanas, Borgie Hermida, Eduardo Tecson and Riego Gamalindo, while West Negros College’s Jonblargs Alisbo, Siverino Baclao, Rundy Baydo and Jelmar Padilla make up RP Team B, which drew another tough contender for its opening game assignment — the defending champion South Korea — at 12 noon.

Chinese-Taipei and Hong Kong collide at 11:30 a.m. on Court I.

The RP women’s squad A, composed of Holy Angel U’s Kathrina Lynne Reyes, Margot Osio, Jessamine delos Reyes, and Leanne Mary Ramirez, battles favorite Chinese-Taipei on Court 2, while the RP Team B, composed of University of Mindanao’s Jocelyn Dumasig, Karen Kantaluna, Elvie Salas and Geraldine Villa, tangles with powerhouse China.

The Philippines, as host, is fielding two squads each in both categories of the event co-presented by Globe Gentxt and backed by McDonald’s, Cherifer Multivitamins, Snickers chocolate bar, Nissan, Coppertone, adidas fragrance and body care, Blue Angel alcohol, Milo, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, adidas eyewear and Yehey.com.

But while the tall Chinese squad looms as the early favorite, expect the rest of the cast to come up with surprises to offset the Chinese’s height and heft advantage, thus making the two-day event truly worth watching.

The local cagers hope to draw inspiration and motivation from the crowd expected to come in droves to root for the Filipinos, who ruled the adidas Asian Streetball Finals-boys division when it was first held here in 2002.