Gilas Pilipinas women’s team has unveiled its 12 players that will comprise the squad competing in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup, which jfires off on 26 June at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.
A photo which circulated on social media showed the 12 players posing for posterity as soon as they set foot in Melbourne, Australia in time for their training.
Gilas cagebelles’ dirty dozen is composed of mainstays Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos.
Also joining them are newest Gilas members Vanessa de Jesus, Louna Ozar and Jhazmin Joson.
De Jesus, a player out of Duke University, had just joined the squad in Melbourne straight from the United States.
Ozar, an incoming first year player from University of the Philippines, and Joson, a cagebelle from Ateneo, had been training with the team as early as the squad’s resumption of its workouts right after its silver medal campaign in the recent Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last month.
Several members from that SEA Games squad completed the final roster — guards Ella Fajardo, Khate Castillo and Chuk Cabinbin, shooting forward Camille Clarin and forward Angel Surada.
Mikka Cacho, who played for Gilas’ 3×3 team, will complete the squad. She took over the spot vacated by Clare Castro, the team’s tallest player, who couldn’t make the trip because of family problems.
In the next three days, the Filipinas will resume training and in between play two tune up games against club teams from the Women’s National Basketball League in Australia.
On 20 June, the Philippines will face the Keilor Thunder and will take on the Casey Cavaliers on 22 June.
Gilas Pilipinas will begin its campaign on 26 June against host team Australia at 7:30 p.m (Manila time) then will battle Japan and Chinese Taipei in the next two days slated at 1:30 p.m.
