Gilas Women’s Ella Fajardo in her senior national team debut. FIBA BASKETBALL
MANILA, Philippines—Ella Fajardo refused to hang her head after Gilas Pilipinas women’s 91-point beating at the hands of China in the 2021 Fiba Women’s Asia Cup late Monday night.
Dominated through and through, Gilas has more to show as far as Fajardo is concerned heading into a matchup against another world powerhouse in Australia on Wednesday.
“Coach (Patrick Aquino) said that we played our hardest, but I know for a fact, I can speak on behalf of the team, that we have more to bring,” Fajardo, who had six points in her seniors debut, said after the Philippines’ 143-52 loss.
“And we just ask for your continued support because we have more in us. Things that we can control really. Getting back on defense for example, that’s something we can control,” the Fairleigh Dickinson University guard added.
Gilas showed little to no resistance against China, which shot 67 percent from the field and had 39 fastbreak points.
🇵🇭 Afril is FEARLESS 😤#FIBAAsiaCupWomen @officialSBPinc #basketball pic.twitter.com/dPbCOAZ2R5
— FIBA Women's Asia Cup (@AsiaCupWomen) September 27, 2021
The Chinese also had 52 assists against only 12 errors while forcing the Filipinos to turn the ball over 24 times that led to 34 easy points on the other end.
“We just practiced like one month and it’s really a big difference in preparation but aside from that, a lot of struggles, a lot of turnovers for us,” national team coach Pat Aquino said.
“But the girls really tried very hard and hopefully, the next game we’ll do better.”