(Apologies anew from web manager for this late posting due to downed internet service at site)

Kuala Lumpur 2349hrs- PULVERIZED, CREAMED, POWDERED, SHREDDED, SMOKED, CUT TO PIECES. This writer is running out of adjectives to aptly describe the rout that the Indonesians experienced in the hands of our RP Youth boys! Our poor Southeast Asian neighbours never had a chance to even experience taking the lead throughout the game as our team Nokia Pilipinas continues its rampage of the SEABA.

This 80 point cushion added to the 31 and 16 point margins we enjoyed over our previous opponents Malaysia and Thailand (consecutively) virtually assures us of the championship tomorrow night (May 5, 6:00PM) via the quotient system employed by the tournament’s organizers. In essence, even if we lose to Singapore (currently 4^th overall) tonight by a point or two, our cumulative winning margins against the three other teams is a bullet proof shield that Malaysia just cannot break through.

(The Web Manager apologizes for this late posting due to downed internet service at site)

Kuala Lumpur 1910 hrs. - When two great warriors collide, they do not immediately draw swords and launch frantic attacks at each other. But instead, they size each other up carefully calculating each other strengths, weaknesses, respecting each others capabilities. Such was the scene of the first quarter when the two first day winners met on court to do battle. The RP youth team struggled to maintain a vulnerable 6 point lead throughout the quarter only to see that lead decay as they lost the quarter by 1 point 20-21.

Tension filled the air as even the usually boisterous Filipino OFW crowd, there to support their home team anew, spoke in whispers with only a sporadic “GO PHILIPPINES!” breaking the silence from time to time. But this situation did not last long as coach Franz Pumaren gathered his troop to make fine tuning adjustments during the break. “You are the better team” Pumaren was heard telling his wards. “You are better trained, better conditioned. You are more talented. But your Thai opponents are playing with a bigger heart right now! They are playing like they want this more than you do!”

Kuala Lumpur 2245hrs - After a shaky first half which saw our national team down by 4 points 43-47, the Nokia Pilipinas RP Youth Team pulled their act together to give defending champion Malaysia its first numbing loss 98-67.

The crucial turnaround happened in the third quarter when our boys buckled down to business and clamp down on defense limiting Malaysia to only 4 points in the entire quarter. Power forward Gabriel Banal, son of coach Joel Banal (who was also rooting among the pinoy OFW crowd) shot  the vital point that tied the two teams 49 all on his free throw and from that moment on the host team's defense degenerated as he (Banal) together with Norberto Torres, Kyle Pascual, Joseph Emmanuel Tolentino, Samuel Joseph Marata, and Mark Joel de Guzman combined for a 29 point explosion that saw the team up at the end of the third quarter 72-51.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Nokia Pilipinas Youth Team have safely landed in Kuala Lumpur after a sleepy 3.20 hour flight via Air Asia, a Malaysian budget carrier that lands at the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) 45 minutes from city proper.

After checking in at the Olympic Hotel, which is just a stone's throw from MABA stadium - the tournament site, the boys had a hearty dinner at Pik Wah restaurant, which is located right underneath the stadium. New recruits Norbert Torres and Kyle Pascual found the Malaysian fare "quite exotic" but the rest of the boys were right at home with the spice.  Mr. Jimmy Chan, a local businessman and partner of TAO Corp President Jun Sy toured the team around Chinatown and showed them where they could buy all their supplies and necessities. That was enough activity to drive the boys to "hit the sack" early on arrival day.