Gilas women’s team advances to Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup main draw after sweet sweep

Gilas Pilipinas women’s team shines in Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup. Photo from Fiba

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3 completed an incredible sweep of the Qualifying Draw A after a sweet 22-5 dismantling of Vanuatu in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup Thursday in Changsan, China.

The Philippines, ranked 10th in the tournament, topped the group with a 3-0 record and advanced to Pool C main draw where it will face with the no. 3 seed Japan and sixth seed Sri Lanka.

Janine Pontejos lit up for the Filipinos with 11 points, eight of which came from long distance, while Afril Bernardino added six points.

Clare Castro and Jack Danielle Animam rounded out the scoring for the Philippines with three and two points, respectively.

The Philippines’ 17-point winning margin was its second highest in the tournament after it obliterated Samoa 21-1 in its opening game and set the record for the largest victory in Fiba 3×3 history.

Pauline Malanga led Vanuatu, the 15th ranked team in the event, with three points.

Gilas’ first game in the pool stage is against Japan on Friday at 4:30 in the afternoon.