Gilas women’s head coach Pat Aquino. Photo from Fiba.com
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Women brace for a stacked schedule in the next few months as it joins three international tournaments.
The women’s basketball national team will test its mettle in the 2019 William Jones Cup in preparation for the 2019 Fiba Women’s Asia Cup and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
With three tournaments happening in a span of six months, Gilas will need all the help it can get and it came in the trio of Filipino-Americans Kelli Hayes, Arnecia Hawkins, Gabi Bade, and Mei-Lyn Bautista.
According to TiebreakerTimes, all four players will make their debut in the Jones Cup in Taiwan from July 24 to 28.
“I’m just happy the Fil-Ams are coming into the team,” said head coach Patrick Aquino in the report. “They are all young and excited, very energetic. My composition is bigger now and more athletic.”
Bade, Hawkins, and Hayes are already with the team here in the Philippines while Bautista, a 5-foot-6 point guard and a member of the All-Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team for George Washington, will join Gilas in Taiwan.
Returning to play for Gilas are Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Gemma Miranda, Clare Castro, France Babinbin, Jack Animam, Danica Jose, and Camille Claro.
Despite the promising line up, Aquino said that the team still lacks the cohesiveness and the Jones Cup will be their gauge for the Asia Cup and the SEA Games, which will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
“The thing is, we still don’t have the cohesiveness maybe the Jones Cup will be our preparation for Fiba Asia and the Southeast Asian Games,” said Aquino.