RP YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAMS LOSE IN LAS VEGAS

taken from Philippine Headline News Online

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, APRIL 21,2000- BEST Center Philippines' two youth basketball teams-Xavier School and the nine-man Selection-lost to taller, bigger rivals Wednesday at the Las Vegas Easter Classic at the Silverado High gym here.

Playing in the 15-under age category, the Xavier boys were outgunned, outrebounded and outhustled by the Utah Wildcats to lose by a whopping 25-point margin, 45-70.

The Filipinos led 7-2 after three minutes but they run out of wind early and quickly fell behind, 13-24, after the Wildcats had yied the count at 13 at the end of the first quarter.

The BEST Center Selection dropped 38-46 desicion to another Utah squad, GNC, in the 13-under division.

The Selection's chances dimmed after top gunner Louie Lao sprained his left ankle and had to sit out in the last six minutes.

"Malalaking masyado ang mga kalaban," noted Xavier coach Alfredo Amador. "Pero talagang talo. My boys looked tired and out of shape."

The lusty cheering by their parents and some school officials and supporters who flew here all the way from Manila failed to save the Xavier boys from salvage beating dealt them by the Wildcats.

Among Xavier's rabid cheerers were George and Rosie Chua, Roland and Carolyn Young, Rey and Alice Tang, Fathers Eugene Moran, Ray Holscher and Bert Ampil, principal Eve Baquirin and teacher Imelda Cruz.

Dimunitive playmaker Tyrone Tang and Chris Tiu led Xavier with 17 and 10 points, respectively. The other scorers were Leonard Lee (7), Paul Chua (5) and Sammy Young (4). Raymund Lumanian also played well for the Selection coached by Jun San Juan.

The two RP teams plays anew Thursday needing to win to stay in the contention.