Phl cagebelles bound for Myanmar SEA Games

MANILA, Philippines - The Perlas Pilipinas women’s basketball team is all set to do battle in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar after getting the thumbs-up from the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission’s joint SEAG task force.

“We have approved their participation,” chef de mission Jeff Tamayo told The STAR after emerging from the task force’s final deliberations with POC chairman Tom Carrasco and  PSC chairman Richie Garcia yesterday.

Perlas’ stint earlier hung in the balance after finishing fourth in the FIBA Asia Championship for Women Level II competition. The Pinays beat reigning SEAG champs Thailand, 65-59, but suffered losses to ASEAN nations Malaysia, 56-60, and Indonesia, 54-60.

“They were silver medalist in the last SEA Games. In the FIBA Asia, they beat Thailand and even if they lost to Malaysia and Indonesia, they were by close margins so the medal potential is there,” said Tamayo.

Aside from Perlas, the task force also approved the women’s golf team composed of Princess Superal, Mia Legaspi and Katerine Brion; swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi, Joshua Hall and Matthew Navata; and three more wushu bets.

The latest additions brought to 202 the number of athletes in the Myanmar-bound Phl delegation.

“As far as task force is concerned this is it; there are no more athletes with pending qualification tournaments or for verification,” said Tamayo.