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[av_heading heading=’Unstoppable Perlas survives Indonesia in SEABA tourney ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The PerlasPilipinas national basketball squad survived its firsttough challenge in the 2016 SEABA Women’s Championship with a 72-56win over Indonesia on Friday night at the Bukit Serindit IndoorStadium in Malacca, Malaysia.
Veteran Allana Lim led the way with near double-double 24 points andnine rebounds for the Philippine squad, which will hope to sweep itsremaining matches to clinch the crown.
The Perlas had a quick 13-3 start in the opening frame behindconversions from Lim, Cindy Resultay, AmbieAlmazan, RaizaPalmera-Dyand ChackCabinbin for a 26-15 lead.
The scoring for both teams slowed down in the second frame but thePhilippine squad remained on top at 41-28 at halftime behind theoffensive plays of Resultay, who finished with 15 markers in thematch.
The Philippines regained its form in the third canto to mountits largest lead at 45-28 but the Indonesians countered with a 10-2blast behind back-to-back hits by 6-foot-5 Gabriel Sophia to come towithin single digits.
The Perlas responded with a 6-0 scoring blast early in the finalquarter to restore a twin digit lead. It later went back to itslargest at 17 on an endgame spurt by Cabinbin and Resultay.
Despite the fourth straight win, Perlas head coach Patrick Aquinoremains cautious of his squad chances as they are still slated to facedefending champion Malaysia and surging Thailand.
“Malaysia is a team you want to emulate. They’ve been together for solong. The program is solid, the system is great and they have thestrong support both by the association and the government,” saidAquino.
The top team after the single-round eliminations will be declared thechampions of the tournament./PN
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