PHL 5 faces Qatar NT tonight; PSC Comm. Loyzaga graces the event
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Sep 2011
After a week of familiarizing their home turf, the time has come for Hydee Ong-mentored Discovery Perlas ng Pilipinas ? Women's National Team to take the challenge from their foreign counterparts starting today in the 1st Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)?Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Discovery Women's Invitational Cup scheduled September 28 to October 1 at the West Negros University (WNU) gym.
The nationals will face the Qatar National Team (NT) tonight at 5:30pm on their first assignment in the tournament while the Fujian Youth Team from China battles Thailand NT in the opening match at 3pm.
Ong, who has led the national squad to SEABA title last year, yesterday stressed that despite the lack of ceiling yet their speed and outside shooting that will be their key to victory.
?This is our strength and we will maximize it. Though we lack height but the girls are ready to take the challenge,? Ong said. ?Any of them can take the shots from the outside and that?s or weapon,? she added.
The nationals is composed of team skippers Joan Grajales and Cassandra Noel Tioseco, Diana Rose Jose, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Melissa Jacob, Aurora Adriano, Chovi Borja, Karen Lomogda, Treena Ann Therese Limgenco, Analyn Almazan, Ma. Lalaine Flormata, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Marites Gadian and Bernadette Mercado.
Meanwhile, with Ong in the coaching bench are Ron Camara, Conrado Pasco, Susan Bambico and Alvin Soriano.
The five-day tournament will serve as the national team?s tune-up matches for the forthcoming 26th edition of the Southeast Asian Games in November in Indonesia.
On the other hand, PSC Commissioner Joaquin ?Chito? Loyzaga will lead the honorary guests of honor during the opening ceremony along side Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, WNU President Oscar Suarez, SBP Regional Director Robert Uy and SBP Provincial Director Tony Agustin.
Earlier, Discovery Perlas ng Pilipinas team manager Bacole?a Cynthia Lacson-Tiu stressed that one of the reasons of bringing the event in here home town is to make the sports-loving people of Bacolod aware of this sports. She said that their trust in the team is to build a squad composed of players from the provinces, although we are also open to the entry of Fil-foreign players. ?We want to provide opportunities to those who aspire to be part of the team,? she said.
Meanwhile, like other sporting events in the country, the national women?s basketball team also faces lots of difficulties ? from scouting of players to the tapping of sponsors to support the squad.
In scouting of players, the lack of competition for this event in the country has shortened the list of potential candidates for the national squad. Unlike in the men?s basketball that aside from the school-based leagues, there are many tournaments being held even in the grassroots level.
The lack of sponsors, either from the local government units and private sectors, had hindered the implementation of programs for this sport.*
Photo: Discovery Perlas ng Pilipinas ? Women's National Team managed by Bacole?a Cynthia Lacson-Tiu (center) and mentored by coach Hydee Ong (right). JAMES TOGA Photo.
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