Discovery-RP women’s basketball team trip to Chennai [formerly Madras] to compete in the 23rd FIBA Asia Women’s Basketball Championship is definitely a memorable one.

The Philippine contingent will compete against Malaysia, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka in group B, while women’s basketball powerhouses India, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Japan and Thailand will compete in group A. The games were scheduled from Sept. 17 to 26 in Chennai, India.

Head coach Haydee M. Ong and her delegation were honored with a despedida dinner at the Columbus Room of Discovery Suites before their trip to India.

Congratulations and Welcome back. Jai Ho or Victory be to you all.

RP cage belles 4th in Fiba Asia 2nd division Merenciana Arayi banged in 23 points as the Philippines routed Sri Lanka, 70-55, to salvage fourth place in Level 2 of the recent 23rd Fiba Asia Women's Championships in Chennai, India.

The Filipino cage belles finished with three wins and two losses in a bracket featuring powerhouse squads from Lebanon, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Playing under the banner of RP-Discovery Suites, the Nationals opened their campaign with a rare conquest of perennial Southeast Asian Games champion of Malaysia, 61-55.

But they quickly came down to earth after a 71-52 thrashing from Kazakhstan. The RP cage belles struck back with an 81-73 win over Uzbekistan only to absorb a 78-54 whipping from Lebanon and yielding their bid for one of two promotions berths to Level 1. Malaysia topped the bracket by besting the hitherto-undefeated Kazakhstan. Level 1 included topnotch squads China, Japan and South Korea.

Aside from Arayi, the other players are Aurora Adriano, Marichu Bacaro, Marias Susan Bambico, Remis Buencosa, Jessamine delos Reyes, Marites Gadian, Joan Grajales, Diana Rose Jose, Treena Anne Therese Limgenco, Karen Lomogda, Cherrylyn Lubiano, Bernadette Mercado, Denise Patricia Tiu, Ma. Ana Fatima Tolentino and Sylvia Marie Valencia.

A good game indeed.