MANILA: First, the Filipinos showed they have the game.
And just after two nights, they showed they have the character to back it up. Team Philippines came from seven points down at the start of the fourth quarter, flubbed two golden chances to win in regulation before pounding out a 93-89 overtime victory over Australia Sunday night for a sweep of their goodwill series at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Filipinos encountered a totally different team in the second game, with the cagers from Down Under reinforced by PBA imports Shawn Daniels and Tiras Wade after getting plastered by 24 points Friday night.
“We found a way to win this game and that to me is important,” said National coach Yeng Guiao, obviously elated at what he saw after getting the tough game he wanted right from the start of the two-game series. “It shows the character of this team, which is refusing to lose.”
Interestingly, it was again Purefoods forward Kerby Raymundo, who, about a month ago, thought of giving up his slot in the team, who shone brightest for the Nationals when they played catch-up to finish with 24 points. And in overtime, reedy swingman Arwind Santos, Guiao’s regular at Burger King, did a lot of the damage, shooting seven of his 12 points to seal the win.
“Kerby’s character is unquestionable,” Guiao said. “We missed some shots (in regulation), but the important thing is we got the win. It was a different ball game and this was not the Australia (team) that we faced last Friday.” Raymundo, who at 6-foot-6 has some agility and is perfect for the international game, hit a jumper with 21.5 seconds left to give the Nationals an 89-86 lead before Santos put the game to bed with a layup off a Gabe Norwood steal.
Wade of Talk ‘N Text was as prolific even in a different uniform, shooting 30 points to pace the Aussies, while Daniels, Guiao’s burly import at Burger King, backed his up with 19 markers as the dup almost pulled off what looked remotely impossible just two nights before.
“Tiras and Shawn did a good job,” Guiao said. “It was an important workout for us because it’s a different ballgame than what we’ve gotten used to (in the PBA).
“In this series, the physicality is always there and we are playing against truly big guys, which we will encounter internationally.”
Asi Taulava missed two charities with 2.8 seconds left which could have won it for the Philippines in regulation. And instead of the Nationals folding up because of that blown chance, what they displayed was the resiliency which could serve the country in good stead in several international meets.
Team Philippines will be playing in three important tournaments starting in June, when it flies to Medan , Indonesia for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association championship, the qualifier for the Fiba-Asia qualifying in China in August.
The Filipinos would need nothing more than to win the Seaba to be able to play in China , which, in turn, is the qualifier for the World Basketball Championships scheduled in Istanbul, Turkey, next year. Making the World Championship is the ultimate goal of this team, which will also play in the Jones Cup championship in Taipei on July where teams coming from Japan, Korea, host Chinese-Taipei , Qatar and the United States will be playing.
