Perlas trains sights on SEAG gold, Asiad stint

MANILA, Philippines – From their successful title romp in the recent SEABA (Southeast Asian Basketball Association) tournament in Malaysia, members of Perlas Pilipinas, this early, are setting their sights on bigger goals.

“The target now is the Southeast Asian Games. If we win the gold in the SEA Games, then it will be our ticket to the Asian Games,” said head coach Patrick Aquino during yesterday’s PSA Forum.

The 2017 SEA Games will take place next August in Malaysia to be followed by the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Perlas Pilipinas, fully supported by Blackwater of Dioseldo Sy, swept all its six matches in the SEABA tournament, including matches against reigning SEA Games champion Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Aquino said the victory is a clear indication that Perlas Pilipinas will be in contention in next year’s SEA Games.

But to make things happen, Aquino said the team would need reinforcement from perhaps a couple of Fil-foreign players or a naturalized player.

Aquino said he will leave for the US in December and hopes to hook up with players with Filipino blood and are willing to represent the country in international competitions.

“We need tall players so we can match up especially in the Asian level where Japan is now the number one team. But if you look at China, it has players as tall as 6’7” or 6’8” or forwards at 6’4” and guards standing six feet,” he said.

Aquino said in the Asian level, the Philippines may rank fifth or sixth so the target is to get to the top four and keep the games close.