KUALA LUMPUR -- The Philippines won two bronze medals in the 9th ASEAN Para Games men's wheelchair basketball competition at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibit Center (MITEC) in Jalan Duta here Friday.
The Philippines finished the single-round elimination in the team event with two wins -- 56-47 over Laos and 49-41 over Myanmar.
Thailand captured the gold after sweeping all its assignments, including a 70-56 victory over Malaysia, which settled for the silver medal.
The Philippines also got the bronze in the 3-on-3 event after posting two victories. The Filipinos prevailed over Myanmar (13-12) and Laos (12-11).
Thailand dominated the event, beating Myanmar (18-2), Laos (18-3), Philippines (11-4) and Malaysia (12-5) to clinch the gold medal.
Malaysia, which prevailed over Laos (16-9), Philippines (11-6) and Myanmar (16-6), took the silver medal.
"Our rivals are getting stronger, simply because they have better equipment," said the 46-year-old Vernon Perea, who has been coaching the wheelchair basketball team since 2013.
Perea, who is assisted by Harry Solanoy, also noted that the Thais and Malaysians are using world-class wheelchairs made in Europe while the Filipino cagers have to contend themselves with outdated ones.
"We have to use modern equipment to be at par with our foreign counterparts because Filipinos have a natural talent in this sport," added Perea, whose coaching career spans more than two decades.
The members of the Philippine team are Marlon Nacita, Jefferson Legacion, Alfie Cabanog, Alex Teves, Mark Anthony Ramirez, Freddie Magdayo, Kenneth Christopher Tapia, Cleford Trocino, Juanito Mingarine, Marcos Rabasto Jr., John Rey Escalante and Rene Macabenguil.
Those who played in the 3-on-3 event are Trocino, Mingarine, Rabasto, Escalante and Macabenguil.
Meanwhile, Malaysia won its third straight silver medal with no less than Prime Minister Najib Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Minister of Youth and Sports and Chairman of the Malaysia Organizing Committee (MASOC) YB Brig. Gen. Khairy Jamaluddin watching the competition. (PNA)
