Gilas Pilipinas Women squad put an end to its “amazing journey” with a sixth-place finish following a 71-80 loss to South Korea in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Saturday at the Sydney Olympic Park Center in Australia.
Afril Bernardino led the way while Jack Animam and Khate Castillo chipped in significant numbers for the Filipinas, who will be going home without a slot in the Paris Olympics but had earned the respect of its opponents in this prestigious continental tournament.
Bernardino pumped in 16 points while Animam and Castillo nailed 12 markers apiece to fill the void created by the struggling Vanessa de Jesus, who had another nightmarish performance with five points on a dismal 2-of-13 shooting from the field.
Still, it was a mission accomplished for Gilas Women as they protected their spot in the Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
“It was an amazing journey,” said Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino, whose wards were clobbered by Jihyun Park’s 24 points.
“I couldn’t ask for more from the players because they really gave their all and we did the best we could to compete.”
Aquino and the Gilas girls, however, have no time to slow down as they are set to buckle down to work once they land in Manila.
Aquino will guide the Gilas girls who will see action in the FIBA U16 Asian Women’s Championship set to start on 10 July in Amman, Jordan.
Then, Gilas Women will play in the William Jones Cup in Taipei starting 5 August and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 August to 8 October.
Aquino said the Jones Cup will be a good preparation for the Asian Games.
“The Jones Cup will be a good test for us as we will be playing teams like Chinese Taipei, Japan and Iran, among others,” Aquino said.
“So we’re going to experience teams that will be competing in the Asian Games.”
Prior to the Jones Cup, Aquino and his girls will also face Jordan and other Asian teams in a series of friendly matches from 26 to 30 July in Amman, Jordan.
“This is going to be a really busy schedule for us, but it’s great that women’s basketball is now starting to get noticed,” Aquino said.
“I just hope that we have inspired more women players in the country and be encouraged to join the Gilas women’s team. Of course, we could only hope to get more support, too.”
