Perlas PH turns back Singapore

PERLAS Pilipinas a second quarter tear to rip Singapore, 69-43, at the start of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Women’s Championship yesterday at Bukit Serindit Indoor Stadium in Malacca, Malaysia.

New recruit Chak Cabinbin and Camille Sambile fueled a pivotal 21-4 run in the second period to help the Philippines erect a 46-27 spread at the break.

National team coach Patrick Aquino credited his players for also picking up on defense after a slow start.

“We were a little bit sluggish,” said Aquino, noting how his wards allowed Singapore to score six unanswered points in the opening minutes.

“We came here 1:30 p.m. and it was like siesta time,” added Aquino. “But I told the players, you’ve got to work hard from start to finish and you can’t have that kind of start [against favored teams] like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.”

Cabinbin, a WNCAA Most Valuable Player, dropped 13 of her 16 points in the first half to lead all Perlas players.

A diminutive guard, Cabinbin only joined the squad recently to fill in the spot left by Filipino-American guard Sofia Roman, who’s completing her studies in the United States.

Sambile also struck in the second quarter where she fired eight of her 10 points.

The Philippines battles Laos next at 6 tonight.