RP team coach Bay Cristobal confirmed the reports, saying this particular team has played in a recent invitational tournament back in Singapore and gave regional powers Malaysia and Thailand a hell of a fight.
In fact, Cristobal was planning to questions the eligibility of naturalized players during the team manager’s meeting set last night. Submission of final lineups would be done in the meeting.
"Siguradong ayos na ang mga papel niyan. What I want to ask is if there’s no problem on eligibility. Kasi ang alam ko limited lang ang pwedeng naturalized players," said Cristobal, himself a former national player.
According to the former FEU Tamaraw, the Singaporeans tapped a Chinese coach and no less than six naturalized players from China.
"They have completed residency since they skipped the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and the last two SEABA championships (in Genting Highlands and Phuket, Thailand). Kaya nga nagulat ang lahat sa invitational sa kanila, biglang may nagsulputan na malalaki at magagaling na players," said Cristobal.
Indonesian men’s coach Bong Ramos, who is a Filipino, attested to the arrival of Chinese recruits on the Singaporean team.
"Biglang gumaling ang Singapore. They were beaten by Thailand by just one point and by Malaysia by three," said Ramos.
Cristobal said the Philippines must not complain, asking: "Sino ba kasi ang nagsimula niyan?"
"Bumabalik lang sa Pilipinas ang ginawa nito noon," he said, alluding to the Northern Consolidated Cement team featuring naturalized players Dennis Still, Jeff Moore and Chip Engelland.
The Philippines won the 1986 ABC championship with a team bannered by Still and Moore. Cristobal said competition here has become tougher on the entry of the Chinese players.
But he quickly qualified it doesn’t mean the RP girls will no longer train their sights on the gold.
"We’re here to go for the gold. We also trained long and hard. We even went to China for a series of exhibition games against tough collegiate squads.
There’s no reason to make any excuse if we fail," he said.
"Kung ang Thailand, Malaysia at Singapore nagkaroon ng exposure sa invitational tournament, kami doon sa China na mas malalaki at mas magagaling ang nakalaban.
So the morale of the team is high," he added.
The Philippines settled for fighting second runner-up finishes behind Thailand and Malaysia in the last SEAG and SEABA.