Excitement and confidence are building as the Gilas Pilipinas Women won their first tuneup game in preparation for next week’s 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney.
National team coach Patrick Aquino said this after Team Philippines got past Keilor Thunder, 93-72, on Tuesday night at the Keilor Basketball Stadium in Victoria.
Their second tuneup match, this time with the Casey Cavaliers, was scheduled to take place Thursday night.
“We’re very good and excited for next week,” said Aquino, after the team entered Day 3 of its training camp in Melbourne.
Khate Castillo shot a game-high 16 points for the nationals in beating the Thunder, made up mostly by members of the youth league girls and National Basketball League 1 players.
The team’s campaign will start on Monday, with the Gilas women’s squad set to first meet host and world no. 3 Australia on June 26, at 5:30 p.m. (Manila time).
“They’re raring to go. We have been training after the SEA Games,” added Aquino.
Aquino said one of Team Pilipinas’ newcomers, Fil-Am recruit Vanessa De Jesus, is blending well following her debut game with the national team.
The 21-year-old de Jesus, who is now entering her senior year in college at the Duke University, has quickly adjusted to the team’s system.
De Jesus, who had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals against the Thunder, is one of the team’s three newcomers, next to Fil-Am Jhazmin Joson and Gilas Girls’ U19 player Fil-French Louna Ozar.
“Medyo malamig dito, but they’re adjusting,” said Aquino, before their next tuneup match with the Casey Cavaliers.
The team is also composed of veterans Janine Pontejos, Jack Danielle Animam, Afril Bernardino, Chack Cabinbin, Mikka Cacho, Khate Castillo, Angel Surada, and Ella Fajardo—all members of the silver-medal winning team in last month’s Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.