PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The journey to redemption starts for Gilas Pilipinas as its men’s and women’s squads compete in the 3×3 events of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games starting Saturday at the Elephant Hall 2 of the Morodok Techo National Stadium here.
Bannered by Almond Vosotros, the men’s squad will take on Laos at 10:20 a.m. before marching back to battle to face Vietnam in the 1:40 p.m. encounter and Indonesia in the 5 p.m. rumble in Pool A.
The women’s team, with the returning Jack Animam at the helm, will confront Vietnam at 9:20 a.m. before facing Laos at 12 noon and reigning champion Thailand at 3:40 p.m. in Pool A.
Vosotros, who led the TNT Tropang Giga to a grand slam of the 3×3 player of the Philippine Basketball Association, will be backed by teammate Lervin Flores, Joseph Eriobu of Purefoods TJ Titans and Joseph Sedurifa of J&T.
“The last three days of practice have been excellent,” said men’s 3×3 coach Lester del Rosario following Friday’s practice at the Elephant Hall 2.
“You can see in their faces that they are ready.”
But all eyes will be on the women’s side.
Gilas Women coach Patrick Aquino said they will go all out to redeem themselves following their heartbreaking loss in the previous SEA Games in Hanoi in which Animam was missing in action due to knee injury.
Now, the 6-foot-5 Animam is healthy and armed with valuable international experience after playing a season with the Toulouse Metropole Basket in the French League.
Aside from Animam, the national cagebelles will also parade Mikka Cacho, giving Aquino more reasons to be upbeat over their title chances.
“With Jack, we have our main player in the middle, then we brought in Mikka Cacho, our player from National University. She is a big and agile player and perhaps, not yet scouted by our opponents. This team is more versatile,” said Aquino in a telephone conversation with Daily Tribune.
Together with Janine Pontejos and Afril Bernardino, Animam and Cacho are expected to take the tournament by storm to dethrone the Thais.
