The veteran troika of Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos will be at the attack zone when Gilas Pilipinas Women squad campaign in the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup next week in Sydney.
Animam, Bernardino and Pontejos banner the 12-woman roster that head coach Patrick Aquino assembled for the prestigious continental tourney that starts on Monday at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.
Joining them are new members Vanessa de Jesus, Louna Ozar and Jhazmin Joson.
De Jesus, a player out of Duke University, had joined the squad in Melbourne straight from the United States.
Ozar, an incoming first-year player of University of the Philippines while and Joson had been training with the team as early as the resumption of its workouts right after its silver medal campaign in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last month.
Several members from that SEA Games squad completed the final roster — guards Ella Fajardo, Khate Castillo and Chuk Cabinbin as well as forwards Camille Clarin and Angel Surada also made the final cut.
Mikka Cacho, who played for Gilas’ 3×3 team, will complete the squad after taking over the spot vacated by Clare Castro, who couldn’t make the trip because of family problems.
In the next three days, the Filipinas will resume training and play tune-up games against club teams from the Women’s National Basketball League in Australia.
The Philippines will face the Keilor Thunder on Tuesday before clashing with the Casey Cavaliers Thursday.
