RP cagebelles accept exclusion from Asiad

MANILA—Though very disappointed, the Philippine women’s basketball team will abide by the decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee to exclude the squad from the Asian Games.   National head coach Heidi Ong told the Inquirer Wednesday that the 12 players took the news well and even vowed to go all out in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship this month.   “We will just focus our energy to win the Seaba,” said Ong. “That’s the decision of the POC so we can’t do anything about it.”   The Seaba was supposed to be the final qualifying for the RP cagebelles, but its Oct. 24-29 playdate is way past the Asiad drawing of lots.   “It was supposed to be held earlier this year but was moved to October because Fiba has too many tournaments in its schedule,” added Ong.   The drawing of lots for basketball is set for this weekend.   The POC actually submitted the lineup of the women’s team to the Guangzhou organizers last week, hoping it would win the Seaba gold and pass the Asiad standard.   But the Olympic body fears that the country might incur sanction from Fiba if it pulls out the team in case it didn’t qualify and disrupt the Asiad basketball team bracketing.   There was no basketball in last year’s Laos SEA Games, which should have been the team’s Asiad justification.   Ong still maintained that the Philippines has a big chance of winning the Seaba women’s title because the meet will be held in the country.   She said Malaysia and Thailand will be the toughest contenders for the crown in the meet to be held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.