MANILA—TEAM PHILIPPINES gets to showcase the fruits of its three-year training today at the start of the Southeast Asian Women’s Basketball Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Filipinos, who will also try to unload their frustration over getting bumped off the Asian Games, will take on the Singaporeans at 3:45 p.m., preceding the opening ceremonies. Five-time champion Malaysia will square off with Indonesia in the first game at 1 p.m.
Team manager Cynthia Tiu said they are targeting no less than the title this time, after finishing runner-up to champion Thailand in 2007 in Phuket.
The Thais will be using the tourney to gauge their strength for the Guangzhou Asian Games next month, an event the RP cagebelles will missed because of conflict of schedule in the Asiad drawing of lots.
Thongchai Vatanasakdakul, the Thai team manager, said five of their key players were holdovers from the 2007 champion team.
The Philippines will be bannered by 5-foot-7 forward Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, a slasher who copped back-to-back MVP titles in the UAAP playing for Adamson.
Manning the fort is 5-11 Cassandra Noel Tioseco, a Fil-Canadian who played for Ateneo and 5-10 Melissa Jacob.
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