"Along the way, you will encounter controversial calls that will benefit your opponents, so I advise you not to lose your heads," said Cojuangco during yesterday’s send-off party by the Philippine Basketball League for both national teams at Outback restaurant in Libis, Quezon City.

"If you get affected by it (bad calls) that will distract you, and for sure you will lose your focus," said Cojuangco, who will leave today along with the main bulk of the Philippine delegation to the biennial event.

Though already acknowledged as the region’s No. 1 in sports, the host nation has a reputation of favoring its teams.

But Cojuangco feels that Thailand has already accepted its fate that it can’t beat the RP men’s team.

He said that because it was him who helped convince a high-ranking Thai sports official to change the flooring in the playing venue of the basketball competition.

"I told a friend of mine to change the flooring kasi mukhang di tatalbog ang bola roon," said Cojuangco, who earlier challenged amateur basketball body to bring the best possible player in Thailand.

Mikee Romero, whose company Harbour Centre is bankrolling the men’s team, is appealing to Filipino migrant workers to support the Filipino athletes, especially the basketball teams which are expected to face rough sailing from the Thais.

"They’re saying that the men’s team is now good for the gold medal, yes I can also say that with all honesty. But we have to be very careful because we might get a raw deal in officiating," said Romero.

"If we have a sizable crowd rallying behind us, I’m sure that will cushion whatever bad calls that will come our way," said Romero, whose played exhibition games in Brunei, South Korea and Singapore.

Coach Junel Baculi is not worried.

After the Singapore stint, Baculi said that his boys are mature enough to deal with bad officiating.

They encountered it against the tall and heftier Singapore Slingers, a professional team playing in Australia, but the Filipinos rallied from a 15-point deficit through the prodding of Filipino migrants to score a 100-93 win.

"We proved that we can win under such condition, and we hope to do it in Thailand," Baculi said.

"That’s the beauty of having a good crowd supporting you," said assistant team manager Erick Arejola. "I just hope our kababayans in Thailand will cheer for us."