INQUIRER Sports

GAMES FRIDAY (Britama Arena)
4 p.m. -- RP vs Thailand
6 p.m. -- Opening ceremony
7 p.m. -- Malaysia vs Indonesia

JAKARTA—At least two of its three opponents have picked the Harbour Centre-Philippine team to keep the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Club Championship which opens Friday at the Britama Arena here.

Harbour-RP faces 2007 Southeast Asian Games host and victim Thailand at 4 p.m. Friday (5 p.m. in Manila). The Thais will have six players from that SEA Games squad but will not be fielding imports.

The top team after the three-day event wins the title.

"Philippines, very good," Thai forward Piyapong Piroon told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday night upon their arrival at the Hotel Grand Cempaka where the Filipinos and the Malaysian team are also staying.

"I think it would still be the Philippines, but we will try," said former RP team coach Boysie Zamar, now handling the Malaysians.

An all-amateur Harbour squad mentored by now-team consultant Junel Baculi and led by Jason Castro and former PBA imports Julius Nwosu and Vidal Massiah captured the Seaba club championship last year.

Indonesia, led by two imports, dealt the Philippines' lone loss during the elimination round, 74-79, but the Filipinos exacted revenge in the finals, 85-67.

The victory ensured the Filipinos' stint in the 2007 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Tehran.
Only Castro remains from the 2007 squad. Joining him this time are Jeff Chan, Tyrone Tang, Edwin Asoro, Jonathan Fernandez, Gilbert Malabanan, Jerwin Gaco, Al Vergara, Dylan Ababou, Chad Alonzo, Beau Belga and 6-foot-8 imports Sam Ekwe and Michael James Le Blanc.

The Filipinos held their first practice late Thursday afternoon and will scrimmage again early Friday. They spent the morning swimming at the hotel pool and lifting weights at an adjacent fitness center.

"I hope we will be able to carry our performance in the Philippines over here," said coach Jorge Gallent, referring to Batang Pier's 8-0 start in the Philippine Basketball League Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.