Netbelles in lopsided defeat to Malaysians

SINGAPORE—The Philippine women’s netball team suffered another crushing defeat at the Southeast Asian Games here Monday, bowing to defending champion Malaysia, 11-112, at OCBC Hall inside the National Sports Hub here.

The defeat was the heaviest so far in the tournament and the second for the fledgling national team. The Filipinos lost to the Thais, 22-62, last Sunday.

The inexperienced PH squad got what they bargained for as the taller, faster and vastly superior Malaysians refused to hold punches until the end.

The Filipinos will try their luck today against Myanmar, which lost its opening game against Malaysia, 22-84.

The top four teams advance to the semifinals where teams are assured of at least bronze medals.

The country’s netball association can get a refund of its expenses here with a bronze medal-finish, based on the national sports associations’ arrangement with the Philippine Sports Commission.

Attacker Ana Thea Cenarosa scored the first basket for the country in the four minute-mark of the first quarter. That drew applause from the crowd, though by then the Malaysians already had scored 21 points.

The Filipinos scored six more points in the fourth quarter.