Air21 in fiery start, blasts Singapore

HONG KONG — RP-Air21 flexed its muscle hard enough to post an easy 105-71 win over Singapore at the start of the 15th Eastcolight-Super Kung Sheung Cup international invitational basketball championships at the Hong Kong Coliseum here Tuesday.

The win installed the 2006 PBA Fiesta Cup third placer as one of the early favorites in the tough, eight-nation tournament.

Led by Homer Se and Mark Telan, the Filipinos wisely kept the game under control in the early part of the game and then settled the outcome with a crippling 23-2 run at the start of the third quarter for a commanding 69-39 lead.

The Filipinos, who are also being supported by Burlington, Accel and Federal Tires, were never threatened from there.

"We don’t want to take any chances . The boys are really determined to win as many games as possible and even bring home the championship," said RP-Air21 coach Johny Tam, who called the shots for the team along with head coach Bo Perasol.

In other opening-day matches, defending champion Hong Kong subdued China, 70-64; United States demolished Japan, 114-76; and Malaysia nipped Thailand, 60-48.

FIBA president Carl Men Ky Ching formally opened the tournament during a colorful opening ceremony highlighted by the parade of teams. He was assisted by Hong Kong Basketball Association (HKBA) president Lee Kwan Wok.

The eight participating countries were divided into two groups with the top two teams advancing to the crossover, knockout semis. The winners of the semis will dispute the title in a winner-take-all encounter.