RP caging victory over Thailand is 8th title at SEA Games

The victory of the Philippines men's basketball team over Thailand on Thursday in Nakhon Ratchasima represents its eight Southeast Asian Games title. And the Filipinos pocketed the plum with a trouble-free, 94-53, win over the host country, a Philippine delegation report said Thursday. In hacking out their fourth straight win before a big crowd at the Keelapirom Stadium of the Suranaree University of Technology Stadium that included Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. The Nationals finished the single round-robin tournament as the only unbeaten team, with a big a big 43-point winning margin. Veteran June Baculi basked in the limelight of his first SEA Games title as a coach while the rest of the RP team members exchanged hugs and high-fives at the end of the buzzer, formally clinching for the Filipinos the basketball gold they last won in Vietnam four years ago. The Philippine team was not able to defend that title in the 2005 SEA Games held in Manila because they were then under a two-year suspension by the FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur). "Mission accomplished," Baculi said in a statement. "We really prepared for this tournament. This is the fruit of all our labor." Mikee Romero, owner of Harbour Centre which supported the team, led the sizeable Filipino delegation that cheered the Filipino cagers. Standing at ringside, he later on personally waved the huge Philippine giant flag amid the din of the Nationals' celebration. Indonesia copped the silver medal while Malaysia settled for the bronze. The host ended its campaign without a single win in three games, but was looking forward to a gracious exit with a win over the region's undisputed basketball kings. Beau Belga and Philippine Christian U teammate Jason Castro topscored with 14 points each for the Nationals, who out-rebounded the Thais, 45-22, and pulled off 12 steals. Jervy Cruz, the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) also had a big game of 12 points and 14 rebounds. So did Al Vergara, who made 12 points and 8 assists. The scores Philippines (94): Castro 14, Belga 14, Cruz 12, Vergara 12, Bautista 8, Norwood 7, Alonzo 7, Chan 6, Rodriguez 5, Fernandez 5, Salangsang 4, Tan 0 Thailand (53): Piroon 17, Kaedum 15, Vivattanapongpetch 12, Kruatiwa 4, Sillapapipat 4, Samoechai 1, Jantharaniyom 0, Santhiyakul 0, Rai 0. Quarters: 25-14; 40-28; 65-40; 94-53

- GMANews.TV