RP-Air 21 did its best but still fell short against defending champion Hong Kong, 76-83, in their semifinal encounter in the 2006 Eastcoliingt-Super Kung Sheung Cup international invitational basketball championship at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
The loss — the second in four matches — relegated the Basketball Association of the Philippines-supported RP-Air21 team to the battle for third place against CBA champion Winnerway of China.
Down to only eight players following the departure of brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo and the injury of team captain Wynne Arboleda, the Filipinos managed to hold their ground in a fast and furious battle against the Hongkongites in the first two quarters but faded out in the closing periods.
The De Ocampo brothers returned home to Manila following the untimely death of their father early Thursday morning, while Arboleda saw action for only two minutes due to a pulled muscle he sustained during the RP-US game last Thursday night.
Another mainstay — Homer Se — saw limited action due to a leg injury.
"We did our best even with only seven healthy players on the floor. Even if we lost, I’m proud of the performance of the boys," said RP-Air21 coach Bo Perasol, who patiently shuffled his players in order to keep pace with the taller and younger Hongkongites.
RP-Air21 coach Johny Tam said the absence of the playmaking abilities of Arboleda and the defensive prowess of the De Ocampo brothers are clearly hurting the team during the crucial part of the tough, eight-nation competition.
"Most of the boys are obviously very tired now. Two of them (K.G. Canaleta and Ronald Tubid) even played for the PBA team in the Jones Cup in Taiwan before flying directly to Hong Kong to rejoin the team," said Tam.
Both Perasol and Tam lauded the big fighting heart of the team, which was even loudly applauded by the appreciative but pre-dominantly Hong Kong crowd at the end of the game.
Canaleta led all scorers for the Filipinos with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 33 minutes of action.
Tubid and Mark Telan added 13 points apiece, while Se contributed 12.
Telan, the most consistent player in the team, also had 13 rebounds despite battling taller and heftier rivals.
Lau Chi Kin and Poon Chi Ho led Hong Kong with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Actually, the Filipinos took control in the early part of the game and seized an early 22-16 lead behind the power plays of Se and the outside shooting of Tubid and Stephen Padilla.
Telan, Canaleta and Bruce Dacia took over in the second period as the Filipinos outscored the Hongkongites, 13-3, in a three-minute span to shatter a 27-all and took a 40-30 lead.