Eric Shauwn Cray (center) of the Philippines competes in the men’s 100m final.(AP)
THE GILAS Cadets will once again stake their claim for basketball supremacy in the region as they kick off their campaign in the Southeast Asian Games with a match against Indonesia today at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
Though the Nationals are expected to romp over the rest of the field, head coach Tab Baldwin is leaving no stone unturned as he fields in a team loaded with some of the best amateur talents in the country backstopped by long-time naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
Leading the way are Kiefer Ravena and Scottie Thompson, the MVPs of the UAAP and the NCAA, respectively. Joining them are Baser Amer, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Jiovani Jalalon, Glenn Khobuntin, Prince Rivero, Troy Rosario, Norbert Torres and Almond Vosotros.
After Indonesia, the Gilas will be taking on Malaysia tomorrow before wrapping up the classification phase with a match versus Timor Leste on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Philippine women’s team also known as the Sinag committed 30 errors and bowed to defending champion Thailand yesterday at the start of women’s basketball.
The Thais pounced on a string of endgame mistakes to hold off the Filipinos, 62-57, in front of an animated Philippine gallery at the OCBC Arena.
Afril Bernardino scored a game-high 19 points but the reigning UAAP MVP lost the leather twice in a decisive run down the stretch and Camille Sambile bungled her shots when the Filipinos needed them most. /With a report from the Inquirer