FILE–Gilas women team with coach Pat Aquino. FIBA.BASKETBAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Women head coach Pat Aquino is tempering expectations for his team in the 2021 Fiba Women’s Asia Cup Division A in Amman, Jordan.
The Philippines, ranked no.51 in the world, is the lowest ranking team in Group B that has no.3 Australia, no.7 China, and no. 34 Taiwan.
Aquino said that just playing in its first international competition this year is already a privilege for them.
“I have no expectations for this tournament, I am just happy that my players have a chance to compete on the biggest stage once again,” said Aquino.
“At the end of the day, the opportunity to even play basketball is more than we hoped for so we are just going to go out there and do our best.”
Gilas Women will first play China on September 27, then Australia on the 28th, and Taiwan on the 29th to round out its group stage.
The fourth place teams of each group will play each other for the seventh and eighth classification while the top nations will get a semifinals bye.
The second and third placers of each group will play in a crossover quarterfinal.
Composing Gilas Women are veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Clare Castro, Andrea Tongco, Chack Cabinbin, Ria Nabalan, and Mar Prado while Ella Fajardo, Camille Clarin, Ann Pingol, and Kristine Cayabyab are making senior debuts.