Gabi Bade was one of those familiar faces who welcomed the triumphant Gilas Pilipinas U16 women’s team that just got promoted to the next level of FIBA Asia Championship.
The daughter of Cris Bade, who played both in the Philippine Basketball Association and the Metropolitan Basketball Association, arrived in time for the resumption of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team’s training on Wednesday.
A member of the gold-medal winning Gilas team in Hanoi last year, Bade is out to pick up from where she left off and provide the firepower for the Philippine women’s team that will play in the William Jones Cup tournament, which begins on 5 August.
“It’s always an honor playing for the Philippines, representing the country. Being able to come back here and train is just a blessing and an honor. I’m very grateful for that,” said Bade, a dead shot much like the father, who was part of the 1991 Philippine redeem team that brought back the gold medal in the SEA Games two years after the country lost in Malaysia.
But Gabi also won a SEA Games, making her daddy proud.
“He represented the SEA Games as well and me being able to compete as well, it’s an honor,” said Bade.
Bade will not be the only player rejoining the Gilas women’s team for the Jones Cup as Sofia Roman and Stephanie Berberabe will also return to fill in the void left by US NCAA Division 1 players Vanessa de Jesus and Ella Fajardo, who will be back with their respective teams to prepare for the coming collegiate season.
