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Perlas' build-up for SEA Games off to good start

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/04/30/20190430-perlas-pilipinas.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>The Philippine women&#x27;s basketball team. Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The women&#x27;s national basketball team kicked off its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games by outlasting a visiting Hungarian club on Monday at the Aero Center in Quezon City.Clare Castro, a standout from Far Eastern University, nailed the go-ahead basket with 19 seconds left, and Perlas came up with a strong defensive stand in the closing seconds to secure an 82-78 victory over the TFSE basketball club.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">FEU standout Clare Castro with the go-ahead basket. Perlas won 82-78. <a href="https://t.co/KJbtdrP6FF">pic.twitter.com/KJbtdrP6FF</a>— Camille B. Naredo || ARYA ALL BELTS (@camillenaredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/camillenaredo/status/1122851115131793409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>It was a morale-boosting result for Perlas, and a triumphant debut for Filipino-American player Kelli Hayes who anchored the team&#x27;s charge throughout the game.&quot;We made more fouls, but aside from that, they executed well. They were composed,&quot; said head coach Pat Aquino of his team.&quot;It&#x27;s their first time together playing, with Kelli coming in and the new guys, I&#x27;m just happy that we won this game,&quot; he added.Hayes gave a good account of herself in what was her first game since concluding her collegiate career at University of California-Los Angeles last year. Also shining in the contest were National University star Afril Bernardino, and veteran sharp-shooter Janine Pontejos who gave Perlas a huge lift with a much-needed three-pointer in crunch time.TFSE head coach Bianka Magyar was suitably impressed with the performance of the Filipinas.&quot;They play very fast and very physical,&quot; she told ABS-CBN News. &quot;I think this Philippines team is a very good team, and we are very happy to be here and play such a good game,&quot; she also said.A total of 17 players saw action in the tune-up game, and Aquino expects four more Filipino-American players – all from NCAA Division 1 schools – to be added to the pool. They whole team, including Hayes, will leave for Taiwan on Wednesday for their first team-building event.&quot;This is the start na for the preparation for the SEA Games, for FIBA (tournaments), for the Jones Cup,&quot; said Aquino.&quot;The objective is to get to know each other, play tough teams in Taiwan, maybe add more sa mga ginagawa namin dito,&quot; he also said. &quot;The experiences that we&#x27;ll gain them, para sa amin mas gusto ko yun for them.&quot;As early as now, Aquino anticipates a tough selection process for the final roster that will represent the Philippines in international tournaments as well as the SEA Games. He had put together a strong group that includes several UAAP standouts, and with more Fil-Am players coming in, Aquino knows some difficult choices will be made.&quot;Every practice, they fight for their spots,&quot; he said of his players. &quot;And it&#x27;s good for the team.&quot;&quot;I hope na ako rin, maka-select ako ng the right people for the team. Hopefully the Fil-Ams that come in can really help us more,&quot; he added.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The women's national basketball team kicked off its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games by outlasting a visiting Hungarian club on Monday at the Aero Center in Quezon City.

The women's national basketball team kicked off its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games by outlasting a visiting Hungarian club on Monday at the Aero Center in Quezon City.

Perlas' build-up for SEA Games off to good start

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Perlas' build-up for SEA Games off to good start

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 30, 2019 05:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Perlas Pilipinas

basketball

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