RP boys, girls shine in adidas final

The Philippines Team A served notice of its title bid in both the boys and girls divisions of the adidas Asian Streetball Finals, posting two victories each to show the way in the early going of the event at the Araneta Coliseum.

The RP boys, represented here by the San Beda Red Lions, trounced the two fancied squads in the fold, beating China, 13-6, in a game they dominated from start to finish and then followed it up with an equally impressive 15-9 victory over South Korea in the second game.

Riego Gamalinda fired six points each against China and South Korea, as he emerged the most productive player thus far for the national champions, who came into the event oozing with confidence and motivated by their desire to regain the crown the Philippines first won in 2000.

Not to be outdone, the RP girls squad of Holy Angel University-Pampanga also came through with two victories, whipping Hong Kong, 12-9, and then prevailing over RP Team B of University of Mindanao, 15-9.

The RP girls, led by the prolific Jessamine delos Reyes, were playing with Chinese-Taipei at presstime, bracing for a crucial showdown with the tall Chinese side, which earlier swamped RP Team B in a 15-5 rout, late in the day.

Earlier, Portland Trailblazer Sebastian Telfair graced the opening of the two-day 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.

The RP boys Team B also debuted quite impressively, downing South Korea, 15-5, the couple of seven points from Siverino Baclao and Jelmar Padilla. The West Negros College bets were eyeing a second win against Chinese-Taipei at presstime with elimination round matches expected to spill into the night.

Hostilities resume at 10 a.m. today with the top two teams after the single round elims disputing the crown.

Borgie Hermida also shot six points against Korea, including a two-pointer that sealed the second victory for RP Team A. Also scoring for the team was the burly Jay-R Taganas, who actually started out strong with back-to-back undergoal stabs before Gamalinda, bucking foul trouble, and Hermida took over. Eduardo Tecson, who shot two points against China, didn’t score against Korea.

China atoned for its disappointing game against RP Team A with a tough 12-8 victory over Chinese-Taipei in a highly-physical contest to bounce back into the thick of things.