Tag: girls

Gilas girls enter topflight Fiba company after China romp

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The Gilas girls, with program director Pat Aquino (second from right), erupt in celebration as the final buzzer sounds. —FIBA ASIA PHOTO

The Gilas Pilipinas crew crushed one foe after another on its way to the Fiba U18 Asia Cup for Women’s finale, but on the eve of its most important game, national coach Julie Amos assured everyone that this band of hard-fighting girls still has another gear in it.

And they did just that on Sunday, ripping Lebanon to shreds, 95-64, at Futian Sports Park in Shenzhen, China, to complete a riveting quest that not only secured a Division A promotion but also completed the program’s redemption story.

Alyssa Rodriguez starred for the young Nationals with 22 points built on six triples. Alicia Villanueva, Naomi Panganiban, Sophia Canindo and Ava Fajardo also came through with twin-digit scores as the young Filipinos repeated over the Lebanese after dismantling them in the group phase.

“Now the seniors, U-18, and U-16 programs are all in Division A. We know there’s a lot more to work on. We celebrate now [but] prepare for the future,” Amos told the Inquirer shortly after the triumph.

“We are so happy for the girls and the program. With the support of the [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas], especially executive director Erika Dy and president Al Panlilio, we wouldn’t have made this happen,” assistant coach and women’s program director Pat Aquino said in a separate message.

Breaking away

The Nationals got to work in the second period, scoring 33 while limiting the enemy to just nine points. That cutthroat trend carried over to the second half, as the Gilas girls played commendable team basketball with Gabriella Ramos, Jolzyne Impreso, Aubrey Lapasaran, Ashlyn Abong, Tiffany Reyes, Margarette Duenas and Venice Quinte all contributing.

The triumph atoned for the Filipinos’ botched attempt two years ago in Bangalore, India, where the National Five ran into Malaysia in the semifinals, eventually falling short of tabbing a promotion.

The Gilas girls can now compete in the main tournament where Asia’s traditional powerhouses are at. Australia and China are battling for the Division A crown at Longhua Cultural and Sports Center as of press time.

“We’ve had an amazing run from the Seaba to the Asia Cup. We hope that we continue to give honor to our country and kababayans,” Aquino said. INQ



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Gilas girls earn Division A promotion after whipping Lebanon

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Gilas Pilipinas girls celebrate after beating Lebanon in the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup final and earning a Division A promotion.–Photo from Fiba

On the eve of Gilas Pilipinas’ most important game, coach Julie Amos vowed that her charges intend to do better.

The young Nationals made good on that promise on Sunday afternoon, dismantling Lebanon, 95-64, to rule and complete its redemption story in the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup.

Alyssa Rodriguez shot the lights out in the finalé at Futian Sports Park in Shenzen, China, hitting six triples on the way to finishing 22 team-best points.

READ: Gilas girls enter Fiba U18 Asia Cup Finals, move closer to promotion

Alicia Villanueva chipped in 15 points, Naomi Panganiban, 13 while Sophia Canindo and Ava Fajardo 10 each in the repeat win over the Lebanese—a side Gilas beat by a big margin during the group phase.

The triumph completes the Filipinos’ atonement arc after falling short of a Division A promotion in Bangalore, India, nearly two years ago.

Gilas can now compete in the main tournament where Asia’s traditional powerhouses compete. Australia and China are set to dispute the crown tonight at Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, which is 40 minutes away from where the Filipinos stamped their class.

READ: Gilas girls crush Maldives by 123 points in Fiba U18 Asia Cup Division B

The Nationals kicked things up a notch in the second quarter, outscoring the enemy 33-9 for a pace that pretty much held up until the final buzzer.

Gilas enjoyed leads as big as 41 points with each of Amos’ players—from Gabriella Ramos, Jolzyne Impreso, Aubrey Lapasaran, Ashlyn Abong, Tiffany Reyes, Margarette Duenas, to Venice Quinte—all making contributions to the effort.

Reem el Ghali had 31 points, while Maygen Naassan added 19 for the Lebanese who settled for 2nd place.

Meanwhile, Samoa defeated Iran, 64-59, to salvage a 3rd-place finish in the earlier contest.



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Gilas girls set up final vs Lebanon, shot at Group A spot

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Gilas Pilipinas girls’ Ava Fajardo during a Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division B game against Samoa. –FIBA PHOTO

Gilas girls set up final vs Lebanon—and a shot at Group A spot Gilas Pilipinas moved to the doorstep of promotion in the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup on Saturday following a 71-47 rout of Samoa.

And with the way the young Nationals performed, coach Julie Amos couldn’t ask for more.

“[That] was a game to remember—the team showed so much character until the end of the buzzer. Everyone was into it,” the national mentor messaged the Inquirer on the heels of the rout at Futian Sports Park in Shenzhen, China, that had the Philippines reaching the you-or-me finalé of the tournament.

Amos knows the zest and poise her charges showed in the semifinal are just what they need when they battle Lebanon 2 p.m. on Sunday for a passage to the continental showcase’s topflight division.

The Philippines showed it could smoothen the creases in its game quickly and find another gear for a strong finishing kick in that conquest of Samoa.

After a lethargic second period, the Gilas girls cranked things up in the final half, scoring nearly thrice as much as the enemy in the final period, 22-8.

Ava Fajardo, an integral cog of Gilas’ U16 campaign last year, was at the forefront of the Philippines attack with 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

“[W]e had a great mentality and I think that’s what came out in the game, everyone went in, and we all made the most of our minutes, all of our work was out on the floor in that game,” she said.

Naomi Panganiban added 12 points, five rebounds and four steals while birthday girl Sophia Canindo and Alicia Villanueva chipped in 11 points each in a collective effort that had Amos singing praises.

Saturday’s win eased the heartaches off a botched bid in India two years ago, when the Philippines—which dismantled opponents left and right early in the tournament—faltered late against eventual champion Malaysia and missed out on a chance to join continental powerhouses China, Australia and Japan in Division A.

But Amos also knows that this year’s run is far from done.

“We hope to continue doing the work as a team,” the longtime member of the Gilas women coaching staff said. “[W]e’ll prepare even harder. The mission is not done yet.”

Men’s team update

There is reason to hope that the mission will be successful: The Filipinos dismantled Lebanon in the group stage, 89-63, behind Panganiban’s 25 points.

Over at the other side of the globe, the men’s team took on World No. 15 Poland hoping to apply the finishing touches on its preparations for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT). The Nationals, who refused to feel good after a narrow loss to higher-ranked Turkiye last Friday, played against a Polish side also plotting and priming for the OQT.

The White and Red, led by San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, are bunched in Group B of the other OQT that will be played in Valencia, Spain.

Meanwhile, the Latvians finally tasted defeat in their own series of test games, stumbling against Finland, 90-84, going 1-1 ahead of hosting Gilas on their home turf this July 2.



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Georgia, on the other hand, finally tabbed its first win in its string of friendlies after crushing Egypt, 78-46. The Crusaders, who wrapped their preps with a 1-3 win-loss record, are also slotted with Gilas in Group A of the Riga OQT.

Gilas Girls enter Fiba U18 Asia Cup Finals, closer to promotion

On: By: admin


Gilas Pilipinas girls’ Ava Fajardo during a Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division B game against Samoa. –FIBA PHOTO

Gilas Pilipinas bucked a wobbly second quarter and then played full of zest the rest of the way to dismantle Samoa, 71-47, in the Final Four of the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division B on Saturday.

The Young Nationals regained their bearings in the third period and held the Samoans just eight points in the final period of the clash at Futian Sports Park in Shenzen, China to inch closer to a promotion to the tournament’s top-flight division.

Ava Fajardo, one of the noteworthy players from the Gilas Girls program pipeline from last year, delivered 19 points to lead all of the Filipinos in a victory that exorcised the demons of two years ago.

READ: Gilas girls crush Maldives by 123 points in Fiba U18 Asia Cup

The Philippines faltered against Malaysia in overtime in the same phase during the Bangalore, India edition of the showcase in 2022, eventually settling for a third-place finish and falling short of a Division A ticket after crushing left and right early into the tournament.

The Philippines enjoyed leads as big as 26 points and was in control of the contest save for the first 2:12 of the opening frame, where the Filipinos were trying to rediscover their groove after a two-day break.

Naomi Panganiban added 12 points, while Sophia Canindo and Alicia Villanueva chipped in 11 each for the Julie Amos squad that will now face the winner of the other semifinal duel featuring Lebanon and Iran.

READ: Gilas girls return to work, shoot for promotion in China

The Philippines picked apart Lebanon, 89-63, in their previous encounter in the group phase last Tuesday.

Iran, meanwhile, was the finest squad of Group A, sweeping its way into the semifinal phase.

The Lebanese and Iranians tangle as of this writing at the same venue.



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Mylaani Sione led the way for the Samoans with 18 points. Kira-May Filemu added 12 points, but was the only other player to finish for the squad, which will be relegated to the battle for 3rd place.

Alas Pilipinas girls cop bronze medal in Thailand U18 tournament

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FILE–Alas Pilipinas girls during a game in the Princess Cup Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship in Thailand.–Photo from SMM Volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas Girls captured a historic bronze medal in the 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship after sweeping Australia, 25-13, 25-21, 25-20, in the battle for third on Thursday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Thailand.

The national youth team turned to Kimberly Rubin and Harlyn Serneche anew to beat the Australians for the second time this tournament and earn its best finish in its second appearance in the regional meet.

Alas, under rookie Japanese coach Taka Minowa, surpassed the previous fourth place of the former national youth team, led by Princess Cup Best Libero Kath Arado in 2016.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls lose chance to reach final of Thailand tilt

The 2016 youth team fell to to Indonesia, 12-25, 21-25, 17-25, in the bronze medal match but Arado proved to be the silver lining of the tournament after earning a spot on the mythical team.

In the u-18 team’s revival, Minowa, also Akari’s coach in the PVL, and his wards won four of their six games, bouncing back from a crucial 22-25, 18-25, 19-25 loss to Indonesia on Wednesday.

The nationals dominated the opening set but needed to fight back from a 13-16 deficit in the second as the Aussies committed three consecutive attack errors before Serneche drilled an attack and Lianne Penuliar nailed an ace for a 19-16 lead.

READ: Alas Pilipinas podium finish ushers in new era for PH volleyball

Australia trimmed it down to 22-21 but Serneche and Ashley Macalinao put on the finishing touches of the second for a two-set lead.

Alas broke a tie at 19-all after back-to-back miscues from Australia before Rosie Alchin stopped the bleeding, 21-20. Maile Salang’s big block and miscommunication from the Aussies allowed the Filipinos to pull away with a 23-20 lead, as Rubin sealed the bronze with back-to-back kills.

Interestingly, Alas women’s team, led by Jia De Guzman and Angel Canino, earned bronze in the AVC Challenge Cup last month after beating Australia.

The national youth team got a morale booster from its bronze finish before heading to the Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship starting on Sunday at the same venue.



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Thailand and Indonesia will clash for the Princess Cup supremacy later in the day.

Anciano nips Rada for premier girls title; Padilla scores

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Rafa Anciano nipped close friend Chloe Rada in the second hole of an exciting playoff for the girls’ premier age category of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Luzon Series 3 at Pinewoods Golf and Country Club in Baguio on Thursday.

In front of the fringe on the par-4 18th, Anciano calmly chipped to within three feet and saved par to claim victory after Rada failed to save her 4 after leaving herself with a long putt off a poor blast from the greenside trap.

Rada caught Anciano with a 356 after regulation after shooting a fourth round 90. Anciano shot a 91.

In the boys’ category, Tristan Padilla dominated with an emphatic 11-shot victory. Leading Charles Serdenia by nine strokes after 54 holes, Padilla extended his lead with a frontside 36.

Despite Serdenia’s rally featuring three birdies in the first four holes on the backside, the 15-year-old Padilla, who finished second at Pradera Verde, maintained his lead, finishing with a three-under 285 total after a 68 spiked by a solid backside 32.Serdenia, aiming for a second win after the Splendido Taal leg, fired a 70. He, however, earned crucial points for the upcoming JPGT Match Play Championship in October.



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