WATER POLO
After eight years, Pinoys end torment in hands of Malaysia
Games Today
(OCBC Aquatic Centre, Singapore) 3 p.m. – Hong Kong vs Chinese Taipei 4:30 p.m. – Malaysia vs Zimbabwe 6 p.m. – India vs Austria
7:30 p.m. – Ireland vs Singapore
SINGAPORE – Mummar Alamara scored four goals as the national water polo team defeated Malaysia 11-8 in the FINA Water Polo Challengers’ Cup late Thursday night at the OCBC Aquatic Centre here.
The 6-foot-3 Alamara, who plays the center/back and center/forward positions, delivered three early goals, and then had a crucial one for the Philippines when the opposing team tried to turn things around in the fourth period.
The national team took a 7-3 lead in the second period, but Malaysia came within two goals at 10-8. In the final moments of the game, Alamara converted a goal off a timeout to make it 11-8.
Adan Gonzales added two goals while Aljon Salonga, the top scorer with six goals in a win against Zimbabwe last Tuesday, contributed a goal, as with Mar “Maui” Valdez, Paolo Serrano, Filipino-American Vince Sicat and veteran player Roy Cañete.
The victory was the second for the Filipinos after losing the opening game to Ireland 12-8. The other win was against Zimbabwe, which the Philippines demolished 18-2 last Wednesday.
More important, the win came against a team that has inflected the Filipinos tough losses in various tournaments.
That includes the previous Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur two years back when Malaysia dealt the Philippines a heartbreaking 8-7 defeat, which eventually led to the Malaysians pocketing the bronze medal while the national team missed the podium as it finished fourth overall.
Philippine Team mentor Rey Galang said it is already an accomplishment for the Nationals considering the times they endured painful results at the hands of the Malaysians.
“This is a crucial win for us against Malaysia. It’s been a while since the last time the Philippines won against them,” said Galang, referring to the 2011 win of the Philippines during the SEA Games in Indonesia.