Perlas 5 upbeat despite Arayi’s absence

PERLAS Pilipinas still likes its chances in the coming Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) women’s championship from Sept. 20 to 26 in Melacca, Malaysia, despite the absence of its ailing veteran Ewon Arayi.

National team coach Patrick Aquino said a title run remains likely as the team banks on the rest of the players who keyed their Level 1 promotion in last year’s Fiba Asia tournament.

“We had a good showing in the Fiba Asia, so we’re hoping to get the gold in Seaba, in preparation also for the Southeast Asian Games in 2017,” Aquino said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum yesterday at Shakey’s Malate.

Arayi contracted dengue fever and will be indisposed for two weeks.

Skipper Raiza Palmera-Dy thinks the team has solid chemistry even as it tapped new players in Jack Danielle Animam, Chack Cabinbin, Ara Abaca and Janine Pontejos.

“We still have a strong chance because the core that played in Fiba Asia is almost the same,” said Palmera-Dy.