MEDAN, North Sumatra—First the bad news. That is, if you still don’t know it by now. We failed to sweep the Level 2 series. We lost to the tall and hefty Kazakhstan by three points. We fought tooth and nail but we ended up on the losing end.
Now, the good news. All is not lost even if we were beaten by Kazakhstan. If we win our last game against Indonesia on Nov. 8 at noon Manila time, we finish runner-up in Level 2, next to gold medalist Kazakhstan.
As Level 2 silver medalist, we get a chance to move up to Level 1, a feat the country has not accomplished since the Fiba Asia competition for junior women was divided into two divisions.
The only team standing in our way would be Level 1 fifth placer Malaysia.
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Had we swept our games in Level 2, we would have faced Level 1 sixth placer India—considered to be a lighter assignment—instead of Malaysia.
The Malaysians are bigger and faster than the Indians.
The odds will be heavily against us when we square off against Malaysia, if ever.
To start with, the team will be coming from two consecutive hard games.
Second, cat-quick, shifty penetrator Fria Bernardo and bullstrong rebounder/defender Angelica Ortega have been injured and are doubtful starters in the next game.
Third, the Malaysians are very tall. Taller than the Thais and the Kazakhs.
But who knows? The girls can work another miracle or two again.
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The people here in Medan and those around Asia who came to compete have developed some degree of fondness and respect for the Filipinos who are the friendliest offcourt but perhaps the most dangerous oncourt.
Dangerous, because their appearance is so deceiving, opponents tend to underestimate them.
Our team is the shortest and the most fragile looking among the entire field of 12 nations. They are also the leanest.
As graceful as a feline and as nimble as a ninja, the girls are a delight to watch. Confusing the enemy is their forte. Like a ninja, they come from nowhere and everywhere. Before you know it, the ball has been swiped away from you. Basketball fans will get a chance to see them play in the PWBL.
But first, they have to finish their business here in Medan.
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This morning, I expect Fiba-Asia technical director Col. Lee Kak Kuan to open the curtains on the last day of competition with the usual live rendition of his “national anthem,” “Pretend” by Nat King Cole.
Every day at the Gor Angspura, just before the start of the first game, Col. Lee goes up to the uppermost ledge and sings his repertoire as if he is in a concert. He starts with Pretend followed by “Rambling Rose” and then a song with unfamiliar lyrics, possibly Chinese or Malaysian since he comes from Malaysia.
Col. Lee can sing all he wants but nobody complains. After all, he has a nice baritone voice. And he is a very likeable man. Most of all, he is the man in charge of appointing referees to a game.
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HOOPVINE: According to Eddie Alinea, sports editor of the Philippine Gazette, although the RP ladies finished third in the 2005 Seaba behind champion Malaysia and silver medalist Thailand, they managed to beat the latter in the series… Solar Sports and Basketball TV recently launched the Solar MVP card Novemberfest at the Kublai’s Rock in Magallanes, PR/marketing services manager Trisha Ocampo of Solar Entertainment informed us via a text message. “This is a month-long celebration of the glory that is being an MVP. Guests get a chance to win Pacquiao viewing tickets, PBA game tickets, DVD players, etc.,” she said… Good luck to Susan Papa’s Fighting Orcas who are currently competing in the Mantas Invitationals in Hong Kong: Patrick Tiere, Josef Dos Remedios, Hilario Davide 1V, Lana Bosch, Francisco Tapales and Vincent Alvarez.
