PLANS may not have worked in favor of Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 in Europe, but Sam Harada said that the team has no plans of quitting as it proudly represents the country in the Fiba 3×3 Women’s Series.
“Even if we did not get the results that we wanted, we know that we will just keep on improving,” she said.
After reaching the quarterfinals in its debut in the Ulaanbaatar stop, the Philippines struggled to advance past the group stages in its next forays, stumbling in its next campaigns in Clermont-Ferrand and Orleans, France.
But Gilas Women 3×3 is putting those losses behind as it seeks to perform better in Wuhan this weekend.
“Eye-opener para sa amin yung na-experience namin doon kasi talagang world-class level yung competition na nakaharap namin,” said Harada, who played together with Kaye Pingol, Hazelle Yam, and Allana Lim in those first three stops through the efforts of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Uratex Dream.
“Marami kaming kailangang iimprove from individual skills, strength, disiplina at patience sa system na tinatakbo namin. Maliit talaga tayong mga Pinoy kaya dapat matuto tayong lumaban against the taller teams.
Angel Surada will replace Lim in the next stop, hopeful that Gilas Women’s 3×3 will perform better as it is bracketed in Pool A with China, Thailand, and Taipei Absolute.
“Ang maganda lang is may chemistry kami at nae-expose na kami sa mga ganitong klaseng competition,” said Harada.
“Di kami susuko and we will show how Filipinos play beautiful basketball.”