Fil-Am Kelli Hayes leads Gilas women’s roster for 2019 Fiba Asia Cup

Fil-American bet Kelli Hayes playing for National University. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Fil-American Kelli Hayes is set to make her debut for Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2019 Fiba Women’s Asia Cup which tips off Tuesday at Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bangalore, India.

Hayes, the former UCLA Bruin who is now serving her first and only playing year for the National University Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP, leads the 12-women roster loaded with newcomers.

Khate Castillo, Bea Daez, Eunique Chan and Ria Nabalan are also getting their first crack as part of the seniors’ team while Danica Jose is making her national team return.

Rounding out the squad are veteran internationalists Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino, Chack Cabinbin, Andrea Tongco and Gemma Miranda.

It’s time for our #GilasPilipinas Womens Team to make us proud at the 2019 FIBA Womens Asia Cup in India!

Our #LabanPilipinas #ParaSaBayan spirit will again be in full display! #SBP 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/pXZzXLWNF6

— SBP (@officialSBPinc) September 19, 2019

The Philippines will be competing in Division A of the tournament for the second consecutive time.

Gilas, however, faces a tall order in its campaign, taking on formidable foes in its group.

The team kicks off its tough schedule against Australia and China in a back-to-back showdown starting Tuesday before wrapping up the group phase against New Zealand on Thursday.

The top team in each of the two groups gets an outright semifinals slot while the second and third-best squads after the first round enter the playoffs.

The bottom teams, on the other hand, will play each other with the winner keeping its spot in Division A and the loser relegated to Division B.