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Source: Rey Bancod, mb.com.ph

-- Singapore is to water polo as the Philippines is to basketball.

On Sunday, the Filipinos, the undisputed basketball kingpin in the region, try to end Singapore’s three decades of domination in Day 2 of water polo action in the 25th Southeast Asian Games at the indoor pool of the National Sports Complex.

Singapore has not tasted defeat since winning the inaugural tournament in 1981 in Manila. The closest it got to losing came in 2005 and 2007 when the Philippines lost by a single goal on each occasion.

Both rivals opened their campaign Saturday in contrasting fashion.

The perennial champions plastered Indonesia, 14-5, while the Filipinos recovered from a tentative start to turn back Thailand, 6-4.

Saturday’s games showed Singapore’s superior technique and the Filipinos’ raw power.

Kamitani Akio, covering for a Japanese water polo magazine, picks Singapore to win by a close margin, although he’s not discounting a Philippine upset.

“Singapore plays at a different level. However, the Filipinos’ power is evident,” he said.

RP coach Reynaldo Galang conceded that the Nationals will have to play much better to beat Singapore.

“We have to learn to control the situation and counter-attack hard,” Galang said, believing that the Filipinos have the advantage in conditioning.

“You must realize that these boys are used to practicing four hours daily,” Galang said.

Dale Evangelista, Sherwin dela Paz and Norton Alamara had two goals each against the Thais.

Top goalkeeper Tani Gomez played without relief and was credited with six rejections, a feat not lost on Galang.

“Tani played exceptionally well. He has improved a lot,” he said.

Gomez took part in the diving competition during the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta before joining the water polo team in 2001.

He has since become an integral part of the team that rose to become one of the best in the region.

To prepare for the Games, the Nationals competed in two international events this year.

Under FINA’s program for developing countries, the Nationals were able to take part in a 12-nation meet in Kuwait where they finished fifth last May.

Last September, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) bankrolled the team's campaign in a four-nation goodwill series in Singapore.

The Filipinos faced the Singaporeans on both occasions and lost by a single goal.

Against Thailand last Saturday, the Filipinos were held to a 1-all deadlock after two quarters, but got going in the second half after much prodding from the national coach.

The Filipinos scored three goals in the third quarter to build a 4-1 lead going into the last eight minutes of the match.