Sinag Pilipinas keeps tab of Singaporeans

SINGAPORE—Penciled as a sure shot for the basketball gold, Sinag Pilipinas is aware of what the host country can do in the 28th Southeast Asian Games here.

“They’re the toughest last tournament,” said Marcus Douthit, referring to the Singaporeans who provided scary moments for the Philippine men’s team in the 2013 Burma (Myanmar) edition of the meet.

Back then, Singapore dished out something the Filipinos failed to anticipate before fading in the closing minutes with a 13-point defeat.

The national dribblers, regarded as the region’s king of the hardcourt, will come in prepared this time.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll come out with a different scheme. They’re going to change some things and be more effective,” said Douthit, the 6-foot-10 naturalized center who played for six different Philippine teams.

Backing up the low post-efficient Douthit are collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo, NU’s Jeth Troy Rosario, NCAA MVP Earl Scottie Thompson of Perpetual, La Salle’s Norberto Torres and holdovers Mark Belo (FEU) and Kevin Ferrer (UST).

They’ll be gunning for the country’s 17th cage title in these Games when competition unfolds June 9 at the OCBC Arena Hall 1. Sinag starts its bid against Vietnam the following day.

“The gold here is just for us to play well. As long as we take care of what we need to do and worry about us, we should be fine,” said Douthit on his second SEAG stint.

Other members of the team coached by American Tab Baldwin are San Beda point guard Amer Baser, Arellano’s Jiovanni Jalalon, NU’s Glenn Khobuntin, La Salle’s Almond Vosotros and Rashleigh Paolo Rivero. With them is team manager Butch Antonio.

Gone from the lineup was two-time UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks, who is reportedly trying his luck in the NBA Summer League.

Except for the Singaporeans, the Filipinos managed to steamroll on other countries in Burma by at least 28 points.

Playing for the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball League, slot man Pathman Matialakan, power forward Steven Khoo, wingmen Sheng Yu Lim and Desmond Oh and guard Wei Long Wong are the starters for the host country.

“I don’t see a big difference with the team that I had before. But this guys are a bit more motivated,” said Douthit.

He said most of his teammates are using this tournament as a springboard to be considered in the Gilas squad, the PBA-backed team also coached by Baldwin.