Powerade-Team Pilipinas off to a Good Start

Relying on the broad shoulders of wingman Arwind Santos and classy off-guard Cyrus Bagiuo. The Powerade-Team Pilipinas simply outclassed the Malaysia national team Saturday night in front of good crowd at the Angkasapura Lanud Basketball Hall.

Although shaky and uncertain at times Team Pilipinas somehow still managed to salvaged a 100-73 win at start of the 8th SEABA Men’s Championship. Team Pilipinas, the heavy favorite coming into the tourney led by as much as 32 points midway in the first half but the Malaysians retaliated back to come within nine points in the third quarter courtesy of their stellar 3-point shooting. Feeling a sense of urgency, Santos and Bagiuo led the Team Pilipinas blitzkrieg and from then on buried the Malaysians and steamrolled to victory. Santos had 19 points to led the scoring parade while Baguio, Jared Dillinger and Willie Miller added 16, 15 and 13 points respectively. The win cost Team-Pilipinas dearly as their starting point guard, Ryan Reyes pulled a hamstring in his left thigh late in the first quarter and did not suit up for the remainder of the game. Reyes joined RP-team veteran Jayjay Helterbrand and center Sonny Thoss in the long list of injured Team-Pilipinas players. Now, Team-Pilipinas must content itself in playing handicapped and with no natural point guard for the rest of the tourney. Team-Pilipinas will take on host Indonesia late Sunday evening.