Odds stacked against RP girls in Asian hoops tourney

MANILA, Philippines – The Extreme Magic Sing-RP girls' basketball team left Thursday for the 19th Fiba-Asia under-18 championships which begin on Sunday in Indonesia. The Nationals will be playing in Level Two, a division they need to win to reach the top level where China, Korea and Japan reside. Head coach Raymund Celis will open the tournament against title favorite Thailand on Sunday. The other countries are Singapore, Hong Kong, dark-horse Indonesia and highly touted Kazakhstan. The country has never contended in women's basketball. No RP team has won more than one game in the previous stagings of tournaments. The team is composed of Adamson's Katherine Sandel, Fria Bernardo, Khaterine Mangahas, Angelica Ortega and Ana Versoza, Far Eastern University's Agatha Marie Estrero, Marilourd Socorro Borja, Raiza Rose Palmera and Mary Joan Leviste, National University's Carmina Laguindanum, University of the East's Cindy Resultay and La Salle-Dasmarinas' Allalaine Degomas. - GMANews.TV