Gauntlet awaits Perlas Pilipinas in SEA Games

Perlas Pilipinas coach Patrick Aquino has enough reasons to be optimistic about the Filipina cagers’ chances to claim the elusive gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games later this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

However, he could not help but be wary since the Filipinas, touted as a genuine force in the regional meet, will have to run the gauntlet, no thanks to the tight and unfavorable schedule drawn up by event organizers.

“Talagang dadaan tayo as butas ng karayom,” Aquino, 46, said in a phone interview yesterday, already hinting how daunting the task at hand is for the Filipinas, the reigning SEABA Championships titlists who also kept their Level 1 status in the combined Asia and Oceania regions last month.

The Philippines will open its nonstop action for six days against Singapore on August 20 before taking on Indonesia, now handled by a Korean coach according to Aquino, the following day and Myanmar on August 22.

Then the Filipinas will square off with the Thais on August 23 at 8 p.m. and will have little time to recharge ahead of their 11 a.m. clash on August 24 with the defending champion Malaysians, who will come in with fresher legs following a one-day respite.

Perlas Pilipinas will wind up its preliminary round campaign against lightweight Vietnam on August 25.

“We’re still the underdogs here,” said Aquino, who is also calling the shots for reigning three-time UAAP champion National University. “But we’re having that usual approach: one game at a time. Kailangan andun yung focus namin in every game.”