Perlas Pilipinas opens SEABA bid vs Singapore

Games Tuesday

(Malacca Stadium)

3 p.m. – Philippines vs Singapore

5 p.m. – Thailand vs Indonesia

7 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies

8 p.m. – Malaysia vs Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines – Perlas Pilipinas kicks off its SEABA Women’s Championship campaign against Singapore Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Malacca, Malaysia, the first tournament our cagebelles will be participating since our dramatic run all the way to making the level 1 of competition of the FIBA Asia Women’s Championship last year.

But the Filipinas had to make a last-minute change in their lineup.

Ewon Arayi, the longest-serving national team member, had to be replaced in the roster by Andrea Pontejos. The veteran cagebelle was brought to V. Luna Hospital last week after being diagnosed with dengue. She has already recovered and joined the team here, but was not given clearance by the doctor to play.

Arayi is an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Navy.

“Kaya ko na nga maglaro, kaso lang yung doctor namin sa Navy ayaw ako bigyan ng clearance. Gusto niyang magpahinga pa ako,” said Arayi.

On Monday, three other key members of the team joined the 11 players who left a day earlier.

Head coach Patrick Aquino arrived along with Afril Bernardino and Jack Animam, two of his players from the National University Lady Bulldogs. The three were unable to join the Sunday trip as they finished their game in the UAAP.

Bernardino was a former UAAP Most Valuable Player while Animam is currently NU’s starting center.

Aquino works as head mentor of NU and Perlas Pilipinas, and the integration of training of these two squads had somehow helped our national team’s build up for the tournament.

Also scheduled to play Tuesday is host Malaysia, which battles Indonesia at 5 p.m. while an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. follows. Malaysia and Vietnam collide in the main game at 8 p.m.