MEDAN, Indonesia – The Powerade Team Pilipinas had a light workout to shake off jet lag from a long trip from Manila, then declared it’s ready to start its campaign in the eighth SEABA championship against Malaysia at the Angkasapura Lanud Basketball Hall here Saturday.

The Nationals battle the Malaysians at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila) in the first of four light games the RP pro stars have to go through here before officially moving into the next stage of its bid for a ticket in the World Championship – the 25th Fiba-Asia Championship in Tianjin, China in August.

For national coach Yeng Guiao, the Malaysian game brings back bitter memories of an upset loss the Philippines suffered at the hands of the host team in the 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Guiao, together with Francis Rodriguez, was assistant to head coach Derrick Pumaren in that RP squad composed of Jun Limpot, Gerry Esplana, Jun Reyes, Larry Villanil, Carlito Mejos, Bonel Balingit and Bong Solomon.

“It was extreme. They (the Malaysians) did everything to win. They didn’t allow us to practice in the playing venue. They allowed us to practice in another venue but we couldn’t practice just the same because the lights were off. Going to the games, our driver would drive us around. We would come with the game already about to start,” Guiao said.

“I don’t think that would happen here. But to be sure, we sent an advance party (led by PBA official Willy Marcial) here to take care of the things that we would need. So far, everything’s okay,” Guiao said.

The Kuala Lumpur debacle marked the only time the Philippines failed to win the championship in any Southeast Asian joust (SEA Games or SEABA) it competed in.

With a selection of PBA stars, the Powerade-RP is expected to dominate the opposition and clinch the SEABA championship for the first of two slots for Southeast Asian region in the Tianjin Asian Championship which determines the three Asian teams competing in the world meet in Turkey next year.

“We’re using the SEABA to bond in a big way in preparation for the Tianjin tournament,” said Guiao.

Point guard Jayjay Helterbrand (pulled hamstring) and center Sonny Thoss (strained knee) joined the trip but won’t be suiting up. Kelly Williams, recuperating from a blood disorder that briefly put on hold his playing career, stayed home.

The RP squad, led by team captain Asi Taulava and assistant skipper Kerby Raymundo, checked in their billeting quarters at around 11 p.m. Thursday after a tiring six-hour trip from Manila to this North Sumatra capital – the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya.

Guiao cancelled the RP team practice prior to their departure to give way to the crucial phase of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals.

“It’s futile if we don’t have full attendance, and I don’t want to interfere with the plans of the head coaches. Instead, we’ll practice every morning here – mostly walk through and shootaround – and play in the evening,” said Guiao.