Philippines, Thailand set up Seaba showdown

MANILA—The Philippines and Thailand handily dispatched Indonesia and Singapore Wednesday as they set up an interesting showdown in the 7th Southeast Asian Basketball Association Women’s championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.   The RP cagebelles, powered by forward Diana Jose and guards Chovi Borja and Angeli Jo Gloriani, sparked a second-quarter blitz to rout the Indonesians, 82-46, for their third straight triumph in as many games.   The win matched that of the Thais, who dealt the Singaporeans an 83-47 defeat earlier in the day.   The Philippines and Thailand, already assured of finals berths, get to test each other’s mettle at the end of the eliminations today.   “The big game for us really is [Thursday],” said RP head coach Haydee Ong. “We have already automatically made the finals, we want to see what they (Thais) got.”   Ong said they don’t want the 2007 incident to happen again, when the Filipinos swept the elimination only to get beaten by the Thais in the finals. The country is looking at a first title in the event.   Sweet-shooter Gloriani helped ignite the breakaway with her timely jumpers as the Filipinos more than made up for their lack of height by stepping on the gas all game long.   She finished with 11 points, while Borja and Jose piled up markers later in the game when the Indonesians finally gave up everything wounding up with 13 and 15 markers.   Top player Merenciana Arayi was hardly fielded but she still managed to score 10 points as Ong decided to give her other girls more playing time.   “We will try to win [against Thailand] and gain the psychological advantage,” said Ong.   But the Thais coach Xuan Min Zhao said that height will spell the difference in their match against the shorter Filipinos.   “They (Filipinos) are developed, but like everybody else, they don’t have a strong center to dominate,” said Zhao.   Yet yesterday, RP showed that speed is enough, riding on the fleet-footed back-court made up Gloriani, Bernadette Mercardo and Joan Grajales to run circles around the taller, but less coordinated Indonesians.   The scores:
First Game
THAILAND 83—Panurushthanon 16, Doksaiyud 15, Jantakan 14, Suksomwong 13, Sangkhum 7, Chirdpetcharat 5, Banmoo 4, Kaichaiyapoom 4, Saechua 3, Mathuros 2, Eiamsum-ang 0, Yothanan 0.
SINGAPORE 47—J. Tan 14, Koh 12, Ang 8, Lau 4, E. Tan 4, Sim 3, Sunarko 2, Tok 0, Lim 0, Chee 0, Gan 0, Tang 0.
Quarters: 32-21, 53-30, 66-57, 83-47. 
Second Game
PHILIPPINES 82—Jose 15, Borja 13, Gloriani 11, Adriano 11, Arayi 10, Tolentino 8, Mercado 7, tioseco 4, Grajales 3, Valencia 0, Jacob 0, Pineda 0.
INDONESIA 46—Wati 14, Ayuningrum 10, Marina 7, Dwi 6, Adhipuspitasari 5, Debby 2, Ayu 2, Shiela 0, Dewi 0, Felisia 0, Kanesia 0, Clara 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 33-26, 57-32, 82-46.