Philippine Beats Malaysian in SEA Games Women’s Basketball Opener

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippine national women’s basketball team widely known as Perlas Pilipinas is off to a good start Monday morning as they defeated Malaysia, 65-59, in its first game in the 27th Southeast Asian Games at the Zayar Thiri Indoor Stadium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

The RP cagebelles were oozing with confidence in the first quarter, beating the Malaysians, 19-6.

The Malaysians came stronger in the second quarter with 17 points to Philippines 9; and then Philippines fought harder in the third quarter, beating the Malaysians 19-15.

The fourth and the final quarter was a thriller with both teams trying so hard to beat each other.

The Malaysians emerged as the stronger team in the last quarter, taking the final quarter with 21-18 scorline. The final quarter score was not enough though to beat Perlas Pilipinas as the RP cagebelles won the match by a margin of 6 points.

The win is a good revenge for the Filipinas who lost to the Malaysians last October at the 25th FIBA Asia Championship for Women in Bangkok.

Philippines first five are JOan Grajales, Merenciana Arayi, Melissa Jacobs, Cassandra Tioseco and Analyn Almazan.

The Filipina cagers will next face SEAG defending champion Thailand on Tuesday. The Thais beat the Philippines for the gold medal in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia.

Discovery Perlas Pilipinas though had already defeated Thailand on their home soil during the FIBA-Asia tilt.pinoyheadline.com