THE Gilas Pilipinas U-18 women’s team will be tested right away when it faces host Thailand in a must-win opener of the SEABA U-18 women’s tournament starting this Friday in the province of Ratchaburi.
The 6 p.m. game (Manila time) against the Thais serves as the outright gold medal play as the two other participating teams — in Malaysia and Indonesia — have already qualified for the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division A.
The winner between the Filipinas and the host country will qualify for the FIBA U18Women’s Asia Cup Division B next month in Shenzhen, China.
The team will leave for Thailand today, Wednesday.
“Playing against the host country and against Thailand pa, talagang gulatan ‘yan.
Ang usapan namin lahat hindi namin sila padidikitin. As much as possible, we’ll dictate the tempo of the game from the first quarter until the fourth quarter,” said head coach Julie Amos of Gilas’ allimportant game against the Thais.
Added Gilas Pilipinas women’s team coach Pat Aquino, “I’ve seen some of the names (Thai players), and ‘yung iba sa kanila played previously sa (women’s) U16. That’s the only thing we know about them. They’ve been very secretive din.”
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy accompanied Aquino and Amos in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum yesterday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex together with the entire team led by captain Ava Fajardo.
Other members of the squad are Gabby Ramos, Naomi Panganiban, Alyssa Rodriguez, Jolzyne Impresso, Margaret Villanueva, Aubrey Lapasaran, Sophia Canindo, Ashley Abong, Tiffany Reyes, Venice Quinte, and Margarette Duenas.
