Officials of the team, who graced yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. in Manila, expressed confidence the national squad, dubbed "Perlas ng Pilipinas," can bag the crown.
"I don’t have any doubts that we will win the gold," team manager Cynthia Tiu declared.
The RP lasses start their campaign this Sunday against Singapore. Thailand is the defending champion, with Laos and Malaysia completing the field.
National coach Haydee Ong also expressed confidence her team, despite its lack of height, will put up a strong show.
"We are a defensive team," Ong said in the public service program backed by Accel, Outlast Battery and Pagcor. "What we lack in height we will make up for quickness."
"We expect the other teams to come out strong but we will definitely go for the gold this time," said former Ateneo star Cassy Tioseco, one of the tallest players in the team at six feet.
Ong said Thailand and Malaysia loom as their strongest challengers for the crown.
Thailand will field a team powered by players who saw action in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, where the Thais bagged the silver medal.
"Almost all the teams have improved but we now have the experience," said Ong, whose squad trained with the Australian national team and also saw action in a tournament in Doha, Qatar.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Deputy Executive Director Bernie Atienza described the team as the "best assembled for any international competition."
"This team is handled superbly," said Atienza. "The (women’s basketball) program is healthy. It’s very promising."
Completing the squad are skippers Pixie Valencia and Ford Grajales. Choi Borja, Ewon Arayi, Glo Gloriani, MJ Jacob, Bernie Mercodo, AA Adriano, Dianne Jose, Fatz Tolentino and Anna Pineda.
The RP team’s 6-foot-3 Chinese player, Xiaojing Zheng, has yet to be naturalized and will not see action in the tournament.
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