Wednesday, June 06, 2007 Alamaras shine for RP By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Alamara brothers of Davao City--Frazier, Ali and Norton--led the charge for Team Philippines' three-game win streak in the ongoing Australian Country Water Polo Championships in Perth, Australia as of this writing Tuesday.
Team Philippines, coached by Rey Galang and Edmond San Pedro, beat New South Wales, 10-6, Tuesday morning.
This came on the heels of a rousing 21-9 victory over Queensland in the opener Monday morning followed up by an 18-3 win against the Australian Defense Forces Team late afternoon.
Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (Pasa) president Mark Joseph, in text messages to Sun.Star Davao said: "Our team is bannered by a strong core of 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA)Games veterans like goalie Allan Payawal, Almax Laurel, Dale Evangelista and the Alamara brothers."
The Alamaras hail from this city's Barangay Sasa. They formed part of the country's 2005 SEA Games team that won the silver medal.
"The team is doing very well in beating the Australian teams whom they have never beaten in past four editions of the Arafura Games," Joseph said.
He said water polo is a sport of height and width.
Beating the Aussies is indicative of our team's present size. They're very seasoned players. Our team needs this kind of training, competition and exposure. That's what we lack," Joseph said.
"Our team has improved a lot. This competition tour followed by a series of pocket matches and clinics with the Australian national team will help us in or bid to beat Singapore for the gold in the coming SEA Games," he added.
The six-day Perth event is a double round robin format competition.
The Louie Mangahas-managed RP team is also composed of Sherwin Dela Paz, Michael Jorolan, Ricardo Dilap Dilap, Teodoro Roy Ca¤ete, Danny Dela Torre, Tani Gomez and fellow Dabawenyo Monsuito Pelenio.
The Philippine Sports Commission funded the team's stint in the Championships.
