Source: Philippine Star,
JAKARTA – The country's amateur cagers proved more than enough to get the job done in winning the SEA Games men's championship, routing Thailand, 85-57, last night to complete their golden mission here.
Sinag Pilipinas, a mix of collegiate stars and PBA D-League mainstays, just won’t let the gold medal that mattered most slip away, posting an unassailable lead right in the first half en route to scoring another blowout win to cap a masterful five-game sweep.
"This means a lot to us, not just for me but the whole team. We're very happy to win the gold and make the country proud," said Sinag PH coach Norman Black.
FIBA Asia veteran Chris Tiu and his younger teammates, who trained together for only three weeks, twice tore apart the Thais, whose core members were part of the Thai team that ruled the last ABL (Asean Basketball League) championship.
They also fashioned out overwhelming victories over Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia earlier.
"What’s amazing about this team is it's a young team. It shows that we have a bright future ahead of us," said Black.
UAAP stars Greg Slaughter, Bobby Ray Parks and RR Garcia put in double-digit outputs to lead the Nationals to their gold-medal game conquest, stretching the country’s reign in SEAG men’s basketball to 20 years.
Meanwhile in boxing, with two gold medals and one bronze, the Philippine boxers bid for a finish of four golds as Charly Suarez and Dennis Galvan go up against Indonesian rivals in the finals of the boxing competitions today at the Basketball Hall at the heart of the city here.
Source: GMA News
Filipino-American Cliff Hodge tallied 15 points to lead Sinag Pilipinas to a 103-69 thrashing of Thailand as the Nationals finished the group stages with an impressive 3-0 win-loss card.
Five other players finished in double figures as Sinag Pilipinas showed its balanced offensive attack
UAAP Season 74 Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena added 14 points while 2011 UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player Nico Salva scored 12.
The Norman Black-coached Sinag Pilipinas started strong outscoring Thailand, 37-21, after 10 minutes of play.
Thailand tried to rally back in the game but the Philippines survived the fightback and entered the halftime break enjoying a 54-34 spread.
It was almost the same story in the second half with the Philippines turning Thailand's 21 turnovers to 28 points mostly on open court action that included two dunks from Fil-Am Chris Ellis.
The scrappy and athletic Thai team out-rebounded the Philippines 32-28, but the Philippines played more as a team based on Sinag's 23-9 edge in assists.
Team Pilipinas also took care of the ball better, only committing 14 turnovers against Thailand's 21.
Scores:
Sinag Pilipinas 107—Hodge 15, Ravena 14, Salva 12, Slaughter 11, Ellis 11, Parks 10, Lanete 8, Garcia 7, Monfort 6, Tiu 6, Marcelo 3, Pascual 0.
Thailand 69—Apiromvilaichai (Darongpan) 12, Klahan 11, Kaedum 8, Kongkum 8, Sangthong 6, Lertmalaiporn 5, Kruatiwa 5, Dasom 3, Apiromvilaichai (Darunpong) 2, Ghogar 2.
Source: Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star
JAKARTA – Sinag Pilipinas had another light workout in preparation for the medal games, clobbering Vietnam, 107-53, in the 26th SEA Games men’s basketball tournament at the BritAma Arena in the Kelapa Gading shopping district here yesterday.
It was practically the same as in their game against the Cambodians Tuesday except that the Nationals pressed earlier this time, taking the opening quarter at 32-4.
The far more talented and skillful Nationals, contenders in the Asian level, virtually held a cage clinic for the Vietnamese as they did against the Cambodians, winning by more than 50 points in both matches.
Sinag Pilipinas hardly gave Cambodia and Vietnam a chance even as the Nationals, a selection of collegiate stars and PBA D-League talents, were still in the process of getting to know each other on the playing court.
“We’re still finding a good rhythm but I think we’re getting along well,” said Greg Slaughter.
The seven-foot Fil-foreign behemoth, who had trained with Smart Gilas Pilipinas and played with the team in a number of international jousts, led the team with 20 points, six rebounds and two blocks against the Vietnamese.
NCAA MVP Dave Marcelo, Nicolas Salva, Cliff Hodge, Jake Pascual and Chris Tiu grabbed at least four rebounds each as the Nationals tended the board well to fuel their transition offense.
“I’m trying to sell that if we play defense and get the rebounds, we can do what we want to do. I think we’re able to do that today,” said Sinag Phl coach Norman Black.
“We played well defensively most of the way, we got the rebounds and we’re able to run the floor. Those were the things we wanted done basically,” Black added.
Sinag Phl may finally get some challenge versus Thailand at the close of group plays today. The Filipinos and the Thais mix it up at 11 a.m.
Discovery Perlas Pilipinas tangles with Myanmar at 1 p.m., gunning for its second win in the ladies competition.
The Thai men have also gone 2-0 here, thumping the Vietnamese, 85-54, Monday and waylaying the Cambodians, 85-62, yesterday.
“I watched both games. The Thais are bigger than the two (the Vietnamese and the Cambodians),” said Black.
“They have three good players. I don’t know their names but I know their numbers. We’re little concerned with the matchups in the wings and in guards because they’re bigger than ours,” Black added.
Against the Vietnamese, the Filipinos proved far superior from the get-go.
Bobby Ray Parks, Garvo Lanete and Ellis were the others, aside from Slaughter, who finished in double figures.
