PH Perlas suffers huge blow to Fiba Asia Women promotion bid

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women’s basketball team absorbed a huge blow to its 2013 FIBA Asia Women’s Championship campaign after a heartbreaking 54-60 setback to Indonesia Thursday.

After a dream 3-0 start in the tournament, Perlas ng Pilipinas was halted by back-to-back losses in Bangkok, Thailand and saw its chance to get promoted to Level I in the 2015 version of the competition flatline.

Only top two teams in level II engaged in a knockout against bottom teams in Level I for a crack at the promotion. Philippines dropped to 3-2, tied with Indonesia in Level II.

Southeast Asian rival Malaysia (4-1) already clinched one of two slots at stake for and Thailand is primed to take the other, as it takes on a winless Hong Kong later today.

Entering the payoff period with a 10-point deficit, the Filipino cagebelles leaned on Joan Grajales, Merenciana Arayi and Mellisa Jacobs, who each hit a trey in a 9-1 blast that cut the lead down to 52-55 with 45 ticks to go.

But the Indonesians earned all of their remaining points in the final minute from the stripe — capping a commendable 21-27 freethrow shooting clip compared to PH’s dismal showing of 12-25 — to hold on to the win.

Yuni Anggraeni led Indonesia with 15 points, Natasha Christaline with 14, and Jackline Ibo with 12.

Skipper Grajales, meanwhile, led the Filipinos with 12 points while Arayi and Jacob chipped in 11 apiece in a losing effort.

The loss could also dent the Filipinos’ chance to be included in the delegation for the Southeast Asian Games this December.

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