SEA Games 2015: Sinag Pilipinas a serious threat to Singapore

MANILA, Philippines – Our Men’s National Basketball Team has been dominating the sports in the entire South East Asia since 1977. We have a total of 16 Gold Medals and a lone Silver when we lost to Malaysia in their home turf in 1989. The 28th South East Asian Games will be formally opened tomorrow, June 5 at the Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang, Singapore and will be aired live by Sports 5 at 8pm.

Sinag Pilipinas vs Singapore Men’s Basketball Team
Naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit reinforces Gilas Pilipinas Cadets

Philippine delegations to the 2015 SEA Games

Philippines has officially sent-off 394 delegates who will play for 33 out of 36 sports and has a goal to improve its unpleasant finish of 6th place during the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar.

Coach Roger Gorayeb has high hopes in his very talented pool of roster which comprised of reigning UAAP MVP and Ateneo De Manila Team Captain Alyssa Valdez, Rachel Anne Daquis, Gretchel Soltones, Aby Maraño, Dennise Lazaro, Bea De Leon, Rhea Dimaculangan, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Julia Morado, Maika Ortiz, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Jaja Santiago.

Coach Gorayeb will be assisted by ADMU Head Coach Anonsorn “Tai” Bundit. Both Gorayeb and Bundit expect their team to cop Philippines’ first Gold Medal in the said sport with their terrific and skillful players and considered by many as the greatest Volleyball roster line-up which we ever fielded in.

Sinag Pilipinas vs Singapore Men’s Basketball Team

Singapore Men’s Basketball Head Coach Neo Beng Siang if full of confidence that they can win the Gold Medal against Sinag Pilipinas. In an interview, Coach Siang emphasized that they are the only team in SEA who are capable of dethroning Philippines based on their recent performance at the SEABA Tournament last April. “We were the only team at the SEABA that lost by a 20-point margin to the Philippines, while the other teams lost by 50 to 60 points. At the last SEA Games, we also lost to them by only 13 points, so they know we’re breathing down their necks...” The Singaporean head coach banks on the home crowd when they face Gilas Pilipinas in Finals.

Naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit will be bannering the Philippine colors along with “The Phenom” Keifer Ravena, Tamaraw Hotshot Marc Belo, Red Lion Scoring Machine Baser Amer, Big Bear Norbert Torres, Tiger Kevin Ferrer, Archers Almon Vosotros and Prince Rivero, Arellano Chief Jiovani Jalalon, NU Bulldogs Glenn Khobuntin and Troy Rosario and NCAA MVP Scott Thomson from Perpetual Help U. While Bobby Ray Parks and Arnold Van Opstal begged-off few days before the final roster line-up was released due to personal reasons.

Sinag Pilipinas will be playing its first game on June 10 at 1pm. Second game will be against Malaysia on June 11 at 4pm and June 12 Independence game versus Timor Leste. Semis will be on June 14 and Finals is set on June 15.

Everyone predicts that Philippines will surely bag the gold. I can also see it coming. Gilas Pilipinas Cadets are too tall and strong for all SEA ballers. No doubt. How much more if they face Gilas FIBA lineup?

I really admire Singapore National Team Head Coach’s confidence, which should be the real attitude of every coach and player. But, beating Gilas Pilipinas is a shot in the dark. Almost impossible. We’ve beat China, we’ve beat Japan, we’ve beat Korea and middle eastern power houses in different international basketball tournaments and I really don’t think they can beat Philippines. The best that they can do is to give Philippines a helluva game and make the whole crowd jump off their seats due to shoot out. They can close the scoring gap but shutting down Gilas, once again is almost impossible.

I really do hope that Coach Siang realizes that they will only face a team comprised of college students. But at the end of the day, it will be a good training for his team and a great experience in preparation for a bigger stage and league. Same with Gilas Cadets, they are obviously the future of Philippine Basketball and international exposures are confidence booster as they step into higher level, as they enter PBA.

D’ Waterboy and The Summit Express wish all Filipino Athletes goodluck!


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