Cagers out to keep SEAG supremacy

If there’s one sure gold medal for the Philippines in the 28th Southeast Asian Games, it is the sport of basketball, men’s that is. “We are more than 20 years ahead of our neighbors in Southeast Asia,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) deputy executive director Bernie Atienza when asked to assess the opposition in the June 5 to 16 sportsfest in Singapore.

The Philippines is fielding a solid squad that will be bannered by naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

Also beefing up the team branded as the Gilas Cadet are top guns Kiefer Ravena, Baser Amer, Mac Belo and Troy Rosario and several other hotshots from different colleges and universities.

Atienza said Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia and the others have learned to accept their roles in SEAG hoops that they didn’t even bother to question the sudden withdrawal of Bobby Ray Parks from the roster.

The 6-foot-4 Parks, son of the late legendary PBA import Bobby Ray Sr., was replaced owing to an injury.

But it is seems more like that the high-flying Parks has opted to concentrate on spending some time in the US for a training camp that could lead to bigger things.

“They all know that it’s a battle for the silver medal,” noted Atienza.

The Philippines has ruled SEAG basketball since 1977 except one time when Malaysia scored an upset in 1989.

Atienza said he doubts whether Thailand could tap talent from overseas, something the Philippines has banked on the last three decades.

“We have Fil-foreigners who play in Division 1 college basketball and I don’t know if they have what we have,” added Atienza.

Singapore has also given basketball a look and its men’s team has improved a lot the last few years but remains lightyears from reaching the Filipinos’ brand of play.

Even before the tipoff, the Philippines already has one gold medal in the bag.