University Athletic Association of the Philippines standouts Kacey dela Rosa and Jhazmin Joson of Ateneo de Manila University, and Camille Clarin of National University will not be around when Gilas Pilipinas Women squad sees action in the Women’s Korean
Basketball League from 27 August to 3 September.
Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino said they will miss the services of Dela Rosa, Joson and Clarin who will focus on the campaigns of their respective collegiate squads in the coming Season 86 of the UAAP.
A double-double machine in the previous UAAP wars, Dela Rosa served as an integral part of Gilas in the recent William Jones Cup while Joson joined the cagebelles in their campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup a few months ago.
“They will be busy in the coming UAAP season and we understand that their respective schools will need them,” Aquino said.
Their absence, however, will open the doors for Khate Castillo and Chak Baninbin as well as Stefanie Berberabe and Trina Guytingco.
Aquino added that naturalized player Malia Bambrick will continue to play despite her dismal campaign in the Jones Cup.
Bambrick, the highly-touted Filipino-American from Long Beach State, struggled in her first major tournament with the Flipinas.
“That was her first tournament since March of last year, so it’s been more than a year since she last played,” Aquino said.
“But we expect her to get better as we move along and that’s why we’re continuously joining tougher tournaments like the Jones Cup and the WKBL event since this is part of our build up for the Asian Games.”
“She’s a bigger guard who can shoot and can defend even bigger opponents.”
Aside from Bambrick, also returning are mainstays Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos as well as Gabi Bade, daughter of former Philippine Basketball Association and Metropolitan Basketball Association player Chris Bade.
