The Gilas Pilipinas national women’s team was supposed to join a lot of international tournaments this year.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, all the tournaments that they were supposed to join have been cancelled.
Despite their lack of activity this year, members of the national squad continue to prepare and will be ready to pick up from where they left off.
National coach Patrick Aquino said this in a podcast as he gave an update on the status of the national squad.
“Hopefully, they are safe, and we can get back as soon as possible,” remarked Aquino in a podcast with Charles Tiu.
The national squad will be defending the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, which they earned with their 91-71 clobbering of Thailand last December at the Mall of Asia Arena.
They made it to the finals after fighting it out with Indonesia and Malaysia.
“Once in a while, we have been doing Zoom meetings, and we’re asking how each one is,” added Aquino.
Aside from the SEA Games, the nationals will also be getting ready for the FIBA Asia Cup.
For their campaign next year, the Gilas women’s program will have Ella Fajardo, who will still be part of the national squad even if she made a decision to commit to NCAA Division I school Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Fajardo, who is a New Jersey resident has represented the Philippines twice.
She saw action in the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Under-18 World Cup held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and in the 3×3 Under-18 Asia Cup in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
She played with Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, and Karl Ann Pingol, and they were able to make it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and claim the bronze medal.
Jack Animam is also expected to return, even if the five-time champion with NU and the Season 80 Most Valuable Player, will be in Taiwan to play as a foreign student-athlete for Shih Hsin University in the University Basketball Association.
