Reinforced RP belles also good for gold

Like the men’s team, the women’s basketball squad competing in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next month is confident of bagging the gold medal, too.

“I feel we have a better chance to win the gold medal now,” said RP coach Fritz Gaston in yesterday’s media launch hosted by the UAAP board at the Dulcinea in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

With two more Fil-Ams reinforcing the squad, things could look up indeed for the RP cagebelles in the biennial meet slated Dec. 5-16.

Amira Issa and Melissa Jacob have been included in the roster, firming up the already competitive squad led by Fil-Am Vicki Brick and local talents Emilia Vega, Cassy Tioseco, Matsiko Matzuno, Christine Chua, Pipay Villanueva, Minerva Narcisa, Aurora Adriano, Pixie Valencia, Diana Jose, Ewon Arayi, Joanne Grajales and recent recruit Fatima Tolentino of UP.

The 6-2 Issa, who played college ball for Meredith College, and the 5-9 Jacob, a former University of California-Irvine standout, are expected to help the Nationals’ cause against taller rivals from the reigning SEAG champions Thais.

Brick, a former University of Maryland hotshot who helped power RP to a surprise silver medal finish in the SEABA Championship recently in Thailand, is thrilled on the prospect of RP winning the gold.

“I dream about it (winning the SEAG gold medal) every night,” said Brick. “I can feel the weight of it on my neck.”

Gaston, however, said more than individual talent, the team’s heart and character will be the key in their gold medal campaign.

“The team with the biggest heart will win the gold medal and we have that,” said Gaston.

RP’s best finish in the biennial, 11-nation meet was a silver medal effort in the 1997 Chang Mai Games.