INQUIRER Sports

MEDAN, INDONESIA—The Xtreme-Philippine team clobbered host Indonesia, 83-68, Saturday to keep alive its hope of moving up to Level I in the 19th FIBA Asia under-18 ladies championship here.

The RP belles wound up second in Level II and gained a playoff berth against Level I fifth placer Malaysia Sunday.

The playoff winner will be promoted to the elite group in the next edition of the tournament in 2010.

With key players Fria Bernardo and Angelica Ortega doubtful starters due to injuries, RP coach Raymond Celis said they will be facing tall odds against the bigger Malaysian team. He didn’t rule out an upset, though.

The RP girls, backed by Xtreme Magic Sing, finished second at 4-1 behind Kazakhstan in Level II and eighth overall counting the Level I competition featuring China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and India.

It’s the best finish by the country since placing third out of only four entries in the fifth edition in 1978 in Manila.

Perennial champion China and Japan were to fight for the crown also Sunday.

Raiza Rose Palmera scored a game-high 22 points while Kat Sandel came through with a double-double performance of 19 points and 17 rebounds against the Indonesians.

Kazakhstan scored a five-game sweep for the Level II gold medal and also gained a playoff shot at the elite group against India. Thailand came in third (3-2) followed by Indonesia (2-3), Hong Kong (1-4) and Singapore (0-5).

Cindy Resultay and Agatha Marie Estrero also put in significant numbers for the Xtreme RP squad which took the opening quarter, 25-15, led 59-51 after the third period.

How the RP girls scored:
Palmera 22, Sandel 19, Resultay 14, Asrero 11, De Gomas 9, Ve4rsoza 3, Bernardo 2, Borja 2, Laquindanum l