Perlas Pilipinas raring to end SEAG jinx

KUALA LUMPUR – For Perlas Pilipinas, their triumphant closing game in the recent FIBA Asia Women’s Championship could well be an indication they’re ready to contend for the gold in the SEA Games.

“We beat North Korea (78-63) to keep spot in the FIBA Asia top division play. It’s huge for us in terms of morale boost for the SEA Games,” said Perlas Pilipinas coach Patrick Aquino.

“We’re flying to Kuala Lumpur in high spirits. We’re positive we have a fighting chance for the gold. This may already be our opportunity to end our SEA Games jinx,” added Aquino as they’re about to depart for the Malaysian capital.

The Philippines is a dominant ruler in SEAG men’s basketball but has yet to win the women’s event.

Aquino and his team were on the cusp of winning the gold in Singapore in 2015 only to let it slip away on an endgame meltdown against Indonesia.

“It was our first time together and we nearly won it. In the succeeding SEABA Championship, we bagged the championship. At magandang pabaon talaga yun panalo namin against North Korea (in the FIBA Asia),” said Aquino.

“But we’re still in the underdog especially as Malaysia is the defending champion and they’re playing in their home turf,” Aquino also said.

The Perlas bench chieftain also expressed concern on their top schedule.

“We have the toughest schedule. We play Thailand at 8 p.m.. The following day, we play Malaysia at 11 in the morning. And in our game against Thailand, they’re coming off a break,” said Aquino.

In the run-up to the games, Perlas played the juniors teams of FEU, Arellano and Ateneo in simulation with the tough schedule they’re going through in Kuala Lumpur.

“We lost the games but we hit good scores. We competed well with the boys,” said Aquino.

Perlas brings in the SEAG the very team that it played in the FIBA Asia except the entry of Ara Abaca in lieu of Gemma Miranda.

“I just feel Abaca is more fitted for the SEA Games. He’s a 5-7 player who can play multi position,” said Aquino.

Afril Bernardino, Allana Lim, Raisa Dy, Claire Castro and Amby Almazan are holdovers from the last Perlas SEAG team. Newcomers are Andrea Tongco, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, Cindy Resultay, Jack Animan and Camile Sambile.