Tag: promotion

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 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.

U18 squad eyes sweep for promotion, redemption

On: By: admin


Gabby Ramos against Indonesia defenders Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup Seaba Qualifiers. –FIBA BASKETBALL

Gilas Pilipinas is back in the Fiba U18 Women’s Asia Cup and will be shooting for redemption—and Division A promotion—nearly two years after a heartbreaking loss that had the squad settling for third place.

The young Nationals, coached by longtime women’s program mentor Julie Amos, arrived in Shenzhen, China, on Saturday (Manila time). Still sore from a friendly with the La Salle Lady Archers and a long trip from the airport to the Chinese city, they immediately rolled their sleeves and got to work, eager to erase the heartaches of the past.

“Even though coming from an early flight, we were able to rest a bit and get back to training,” Amos told the Inquirer. “We had our first training today at 2 p.m. and [we hope to do it tomorrow] 2 p.m. again before June 24.”

The Philippines’ path will first go through the Maldives, a side they picked apart with methodical precision in their last meeting, 110-28, in the previous edition of the tournament held in Bangalore, India.

The clash is set at 4:30 p.m. at Futian Sports Park with the likes of Naomi Panganiban, Gabriella Ramos, and Tiff Reyes expected to match their strong showing during the Asia Cup qualifiers in Thailand last May.

2022 heartache

Amos noted her charges’ zest but knows all too well that it will all be for naught without the proper mindset.

“We all know that this will be a tough competition. And for us to be able to win, to face all [sorts of] adversities, we have to be ready mentally and physically,” she said. “Being resilient and determined is what [we need to do] in this tournament. The girls are excited and ready.”

Gilas is also slotted with Syria and Lebanon in Group B.

The Philippines was on track to reach the you-or-me finale during the 2022 showcase, but ran into a tough-as-nails Malaysian side that prevailed in overtime, 66-65. Gilas, then starred by the likes of Kate Bobadilla, Kristian Yumul, and Louna Ozar, played Samoa to wind up in third place.

A sweep of the Shenzhen showcase will finally send the Philippines to Division A, where continental powerhouses China, Japan and Australia compete.



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