RP jrs whip Macao, face China in cage invitational finals

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca came up with 16 points and an all-around game and US-raised teammate Terrel Theophile added 14 points and seven rebounds and the RP nationals dispatch Macau 118-59 in the semifinals of the first China-ASEAN CBO Men's Invitational Tournament on Saturday in Guangxi, China. The victory set up a finals meeting with the hosts, who trashed Singapore 78-63. The RP-China finale was staged Sunday. It was a balanced effort by the Nationals, who are collegiate mainstays in the developmental pool of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. All 11 players fielded by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman scored in an unrelenting show of offensive power. "I'm very happy the team is quickly learning and adjusting to the system of international play which we are setting up," Toroman said. "We have only started playing competitive games with this new system this week and I really did not expect the boys to perform this well in our first tournament together. This is a very positive development," he added. Ogie Menor also had 14 points and seven rebounds. Dylan Ababou added 13 points and Mac Baracel 12. Greg Slaughter, a towering center who plays in Cebu, chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Barroca, Far Eastern University's starting point guard, also finished with five assists and three steals. After Macau scored the first basket, the Smart Communications and Nike-backed RP team stormed to a 26-15 lead after the first quarter. The lead ballooned to 64-30 at halftime. "It is amazing how the boys are really sacrificing their own brand of play for the team concept being put in place," SBP executive-director Noli Eala said. "While we are hoping for a championship, I am already sure we will come out of this tourney better and stronger as a team no matter what the outcome is tomorrow," he added. - GMANews.TV