RP girls rip S'poreans, face Kazakhs

MEDAN, Indonesia – Streaking Xtreme RP team clobbered Singapore, 68-50, to notch its third straight victory in the 19th FIBA Asia under-18 ladies championship at the Angkasa Lanud Hall here Wednesday.

The RP belles played sluggishly but still proved too strong for the Singaporeans to move closer to a playoff for a shot at Level I play in the next edition of the biennial Asian junior ladies tilt.

The RP squad, backed by Xtreme Magic Sing, used decisive runs in the first and the last quarters in scoring thei third win after earlier victories over Thailand and Hong Kong.

The RP team’s mettle, however, will be tested as they square off with fancied Kazakhstan today.

Coach Raymond Celis and his team need to place first or second in Level II to line themselves up for a playoff with either the fifth or sixth placer in Level I.

The Kazakhs (2-0) and the Thais (2-1) were still playing at presstime.

Despite the easy win, the RP belles weren’t satisfied with their showing against the Singaporeans, a lowly squad they thought they could easily beat by no less than 30 points.

In the dugout after the game, team captain Kat Sandel asked her teammates to stay focused for the big game against Kazakhstan.

Sandel once again topscored for the team with 25 points while Raiza Rose Palmera chipped in 18 and Agatha Marie Estrero added 10.