Fernandez, Chan complete RP 5

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Jonathan Fernandez and Jeff Chan beat out Chris Tiu, Eric dela Cuesta and Patrick Cabahug for the last two slots in the men’s basketball team while Fil-Am players Melisa Jacob and Amira Issa bumped off homegrown talents Tintin Chua and Pipay Villanueva in the women’s squad.

Coaches Junel Baculi and Fritz Gaston announced their final 12 on the eve of the opening of the 24th SEA Games basketball competition which the Philippines is looking to dominate to cushion the impact of an expected defeat by the country in the fight for the overall championship.

In the sports discipline closest to Filipino fans, the men’s team is the first to see action, taking on Cambodia at 3 p.m. today at the Keelapirom Stadium inside Suranaree University of Technology.

“It’s a golf game. Our worst enemy is ourselves,” said team manager Chino Trinidad, confident Baculi and his boys will successfully defend the crown the country won for the seventh straight time in Ho Chi Minh in 2003.

The Nationals, led by FIBA Asia championship veteran Gabe Norwood and UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz, next play Indonesia Sunday, Malaysia Wednesday and Thailand Thursday.

The RP belles, with their frontcourt firmed up by the addition of 6-foot-3 center Issa and their backcourt strengthened by the entry of all-around talent Jacob, play Singapore tomorrow, Thailand Sunday and Malaysia Wednesday.

The organizing Thai basketball federation revised the original schedule for both the men’s and women’s games, obviously to favor the home teams.

“We expected the worst. We knew they would do everything possible to give their team a chance to beat us. But we’ll be ready, “ said Trinidad.

“They’re exercising to the max their rights as host. But we’re prepared for this,” said Gaston, whose team is plunging to action here coming off a weeklong training trip in Shanghai, China.

The men’s team, for one, has been scheduled to play two games inside 24 hours from 5 p.m. on the 12th with the Thais their last assignment on the 13th at 3 p.m.

“Originally, we’re playing every other game. But they changed it, hoping we’ll be worn out when they play us on the 13th,” Trinidad noted.

The ladies schedule was also altered with the RP-Thai game moved from Dec. 8 to Dec. 9.

“Supposedly, we’re playing right in the first game. They moved it to the next day when they saw that we have two new players. Surely, they want to scout our new players first,” said Gaston.

The Thais beat the Filipinas in their championship fight in the recent SEABA championship in Phuket although RP stunned the host in their elims tiff.

Joining Issa and Jacob in the team are fellow Fil-Am Vicky Brick, team captain Emelia Vega, Aurora Adriano, Joan Grajales, Minerva Narcisa, Cassandra Tioseco, Fatima Tolentino, Diana Jose, Machico Matsuno and Sylvia Marie Valencia.

The men’s team also includes team captain Allan Salangsang, Richard Alonzo, Boyet Bautista, Beau Belga, Eric Rodriguez, Eugene Tan, Al Vergara and Jason Castro.