Perlas five seeks revenge vs SEAG tormentor Indonesia

MALACCA, Malaysia—Perlas Pilipinas will have an ax to grind against Indonesia when they square off at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Women’s Championship at Bukit Serindit Indoor Stadium here.

After breezing past their first two opponents, the Filipinos will take on the Indonesians, who beat them in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Indonesia will be bannered by six-footer Gabriel Sophia, the center who did most of the damage against the Filipinos in the Singapore meet where the PH ladies wound up fourth behind Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Coach Patrick Aquino is hoping the Philippines would carry the momentum of its huge wins over Singapore and Laos, which it defeated by a combined margin of 173 points.

“We have to be wary of the quotient, but more than anything else, it’s a way to preserve our starting unit for the bigger games to come and allow the other players to build their confidence,” said Aquino.

The Blackwater Women-backed Perlas Pilipinas was playing Vietnam, being coached by Filipino Jojo Castillo, at press time.

On Tuesday, Perlas Pilipinas gave Laos a sound beating, posting a 100-point lead in the waning minutes of the third quarter, 124-24.