Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team in the Fiba U16 Women’s Asia Championship. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Gilas Pilipinas women’s under-16 squad began its 2023 Fiba U16 Women’s Asia Championship in a dominating fashion.
The Gilas Girls clobbered Hong Kong, 79-40, to kick off their campaign in Amman, Jordan on Monday (Manila time).
It was all Filipinos from the get-go and they led by as much as 41, 79-38, at one point.
The defense was also the girls’ bread and butter during the game, forcing Hong Kong to 34 turnovers, resulting in 26 points for the Pat Aquino-coached squad.
Ava Fajardo led the Philippines’ stellar victory with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Helping Fajardo, Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Ella’s younger sister, on offense was Ryan Kelly Nair and Rylee Palma, who registered 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
Coming up next for the Gilas Girls are Maldives on Tuesday night. In order to advance to the next round, the Nationals would need to finish in the top two of Group A.
Last year, the Gilas Girls finished third in the Fiba U16 tourney after bowing to Samoa in the semifinals phase.