HANGZHOU. – The Gilas women’s team scored a rousing triumph in their debut in the Asian Games here Wednesday, hacking out an 83-59 rout of Kazakhstan at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre gymnasium.
Janine Pontejos exploded for 21 points, Ana Castillo had 15, and veteran Afril Bernardino added 11 in the big win that put the team’s campaign on a blazing start.
Gilas outscored the Kazakhs 23-9 in the second period behind Pontejos, Jack Animam, Bernardino, and Stefanie Berberabe and took a 40-26 lead at the break.
Prior to the offensive spark, the contest was tied at 17-all after the first quarter.
The Filipinas return to the court on Friday against Hong Kong, badly beaten earlier by world power Japan 118-46 in the other Group B match up.
Other games saw Korea beating Thailand, 90-56, and North Korea winning over Chinese Taipei, 91-77, in a pair of Group C games.
