Gilas Pilipinas Women squad was given a warm welcome by the Filipino community when they arrived in Melbourne on Saturday for the final leg of its preparation for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup set to start on 26 July.
Gilas team manager Michael Lim said they drew the solid support of the Australian-Filipino Community Services ahead of the prestigious continental tournament.
“ACFC is a charitable community service organization that provides services and support to Filipinos in Australia, enhancing their health and well-being,” Lim said in an online exchange on Sunday.
“They invited the team to be part of their health promotion campaign ‘Filipinas in Sports’ that encourages Filipinas to lead a healthy and active lifestyle and promotes the achievements of Filipino sportswomen and girls in Australia.”
“The AFCS is helping us in our campaign here in the FIBA Asia Cup, that’s the reason why the expenses are only minimal.”
Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino brought in 12 players for the national team that is vying for a top four berth in hope of landing a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Expected to be included in the team are mainstays Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos as well as new recruits naturalized player Vanessa de Jesus, Louna Ozar and Jhazmin Joson.
‘The AFCS is helping us in our campaign here in the FIBA Asia Cup, that’s the reason why the expenses are only minimal.’
Rising stars Ella Fajardo, Khate Castillo and Camille Clarin are also tipped to be chosen in the final 12 along with Angel Surada and Mika Cacho and Chak Cabinbin. Other players vying for spots are Trina Guytingco, Andrea Tongco and Stephanie Berberabe.
De Jesus, who plays for Duke University in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association, joined Gilas in Melbourne.
She will start playing for Gilas girls when they face two crack club teams from the Women’s National Basketball League Australia — Keilor Thunder and Casey Cavaliers — in friendly matches.
Gilas will play Keilor on 20 June then battle Casey two days later in between their short training sessions in Melbourne.
The Nationals are coming off a silver medal finish in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last month, but they will miss the presence of their biggest player — Clare Castro — in the prestigious continental meet.
One of the longest-serving members of the Philippine women’s basketball program, the 6-foot-4 Castro couldn’t commit to the squad for the FIBA Asia Cup due to family problems, which means Cacho and Surada will have a bigger chance of making the final roster.
Gilas will open their campaign against host team Australia on 26 June before facing Japan and Chinese Taipei in the next two days.
After the FIBA Asia Cup, the Filipinas will return to Manila to join the William Jones Cup for Women in Taipei next month in preparation for their next major competition, the 19th Asian Games slated 23 September to 8 October.
