CALL it sweet sixth.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ top brass hailed the Gilas Pilipinas squad for a strong top-six finish anew in the recent FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China.
SBP President Al Panlilio was particularly ecstatic about the showing of the Pat Aquino-mentored five’s young belles such as Sumayah Sugapong and Naomi Panganiban.
“We’re happy with the fight and the heart that our team showed. I’m proud of what they accomplished especially with how young that team was,” Panlilio said. “You have players such as Sumayah Sugapong and Naomi Panganiban who are not even 20 years old yet showed poise at the biggest and toughest women’s tournament in the region.
“The growth is encouraging and the young talent is definitely there so now we need to push even harder,” he added.
The Filipina dribblers dropped their first two games to Australia and Japan, but the team showed their true worth with a fiery fightback in the fourth quarter against the Japanese side, which only prevailed 85-82.
Japan eventually beat defending champion China in the semifinals for a shot to challenge Australia in the finals.
Gilas women then took lessons to heart and edged Lebanon 73-70 in the final group stage match to retain their Division A slot and clinch a berth in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
SBP executive director Erika Dy also heaped praises on Gilas women.
“This young team showed glimpses of what it could be in the future. Under the leadership of veterans Jack Animam and Khate Castillo, the younger players stepped up and showed they belong to this level,” Dy said. “We are very proud of what the team accomplished here despite the absence of key pieces such as Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos, but at the same time we are not satisfied.
“Competing at this level is one thing—to be a legitimate threat in this tournament is another. That’s the next level, and that is where we want to be.”
The Philippine quintet fell short in qualifying for the semifinals after a loss to South Korea but it got tantalizingly close to finishing fifth with a fourth-quarter advantage against New Zealand in the classification match.
But the taller crew from Oceania proved steadier in the end game to pull off a 78-71 victory.
Gilas women will stay busy throughout the rest of the year as the Southeast Asian Games are set for December and the Philippines will be out to regain the gold in the women’s cage tilt.
