Philippines - RP 5 stuns Australia-based pros
Combining defense with a vicious running game, Team Philippines defeated the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Center here. Cheered on by some 2,000 of their countrymen, the nationals quickened the pace in the second half with a sleek attack and solid interior defense to pull the rug from under the Slingers, who led almost majority of the match before folding up the final stretch.
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Combining defense with a vicious running game, Team Philippines defeated the Singapore Slingers, 100-93, before a predominantly Filipino crowd at the Jurong East Sports and Cultural Center here.
Cheered on by some 2,000 of their countrymen, the nationals quickened the pace in the second half with a sleek attack and solid interior defense to pull the rug from under the Slingers, who led almost majority of the match before folding up the final stretch.
“The team showed mental toughness, they really want to prove something,” said an impressed RP team coach Junel Baculi.
RP also routed the Singapore national squad, 90-42, Sunday, and a United States Navy selection, 105-58, a day later, but Tuesday’s victory was considered the biggest since the Slingers are an all-professional team competing in the tough National Basketball League in Australia.
Reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz, who held his own against the Aussie, American and Macedonian giants of the Slingers, came through with a monster game of 23 points and 12 rebounds to underscore how the RP bigs matched up well with their bigger foes.
Fil-Am Alex Crisano had some unnecessary fouls, but kept his cool enough to help the team with six points and five rebounds while Allan Salangsang, Chad Alonzo and Beau Belga combined for 23 points and 11 boards, performances that should bode well for an RP team going for the gold medal in the 24th Southeast Asian Games slated Dec. 7 to 13 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The small but lightning-quick duo of Jason Castro and Al Vergara provided the spark as the two combined for 27 points and eight assists to ease the pressure off their big men inside.
Meanwhile, Toyota Balintawak tries to recover from a losing slump in the Philippine Basketball League V-Go Energy Drink Cup as it takes on upredictable San Mig Coffee today at The Arena in San Juan.
The Road Kings are now on a downswing, having lost their last three outings after starting the season-opening tournament by winning their first two assignments.
The last of those losses came just five days ago, a 17-point blowout at the hands of defending champion Harbour Centre, 86-103.
Coach Ariel Vanguardia hopes to stop the bleeding in their 4 p.m. game with the Coffee Kings.
But San Mig Coffee, too, is looking to get back into the win column itself after losing badly to the RP men’s team in its last outing, 78-88.