Two new faces will be joining Gilas Pilipinas Women team when it prepares for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup next month in Sydney, Australia.
Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino confirmed that Louna Ozar and Jhazmin Joson will be on board to join them in their preparation for the prestigious continental event that kicks off on 26 June at the Sydney Olympic Park.
Ozar and Joson are no strangers to Philippine basketball.
Ozar is an incoming rookie for University of the Philippines who played for the national squad in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship in India last year in which he averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and two assists per game.
Joson, for her part, is a playmaker who competes for Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Aquino said both Ozar and Joson are ready to train with them starting Monday at the Aero Center Basketball Court in Quezon City.
“I invited them to join our training. This is going to comprise our pool. We’re adding players, but then we will prune it down before naming our final 12 a few days before the competition,” Aquino said, adding that he hopes that their biggest recruit in Duke University star Vanessa de Jesus will be on board by the first week of June.
“But we’re hoping Vanessa can join us as early as the first week of June. We’re trying to process everything to bring her here.”
Gilas Pilipinas has secured its status in the Level 1 in 2017.
In the coming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, Gilas are currently in Group B alongside host Australia, Japan and Chinese Taipei.
They will start their campaign on 26 June against Australia before battling Japan on 27 June and Chinese Taipei on 28 June.
