Perlas Pilipinas loses by 51 to Japan in Fiba Asia Women’s Cup opener

Cindy Resultay of Perlas Pilipinas. Photo from Fiba.com

Perlas Pilipinas got a rude welcome in Division A after a 106-55 beatdown at the hands of defending champion Japan in the Fiba Asia Women’sCup Sunday at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bangalore, India.

Japan showed it was on a different class from the get-go, taking a 25-11 lead after the first 10 minutes of the game

The mighty Japanese stretched their advantage to 50, 91-41, after a basket by Evelyn Mawuli with 8:13 left.

Mawuli topscored with 21 points to lead five other Japanese players scored in double-digits with Miyuki Kawamura adding 14 and Sakura Akaho posting a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Gemma Miranda was the lone bright spot for PH. She finished with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

A determined Perlas, which faces another powerhouse in Australia on Monday, tried but just couldn’t get anything going. The Filipinos shot just 29% from the field while the allowing the Japanese to shoot 49%.