Gilas Pilipinas Women struggle late, fall to Chinese Taipei-B in Jones Cup

Gilas Pilipinas Women. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines-Gilas Pilipinas Women found very few answers for Chinese Taipei-B in the final period, bowing to the hosts, 94-83, in the 42nd William Jones Cup on Monday night.

Gilas Pilipinas went frosty as Taipei-B caught fire in the payoff frame, drilling four triples to seal the victory at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.

Afril Bernardino had 22 points, while Jack Animam added 18 in the losing effort that had the Philippines dropping to a 1-2 record for fifth spot in the race being used by national coach Pat Aquino to prime his charges for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, this September.

Janine Pontejos finished with 11, as Jhaz Joson—the star of Gilas’ win over Iran the night before—added nine more.

Rookie Kacey dela Rosa, who has been racking up twin-digit scores in Gilas’ first two outings, was held to just four points.

Ting Tai and Yi Wen Jhang had 19 and 17 points, respectively, and big in that counterattack that kept them ahead until the final horn, eventually snapping their two-game slide in the showcase.

Things won’t be any easier now for the Nationals, who are going to play 2-1 Busan BNK Sum of the Women’s Korean Basketball League on Tuesday and then 3-0 Chanson V-Magic of Women’s Japan Basketball League on Wednesday.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 83 – Bernardino 22, Animam 18, Pontejos 11, Joson 9, Tongco 7, del Carmen 7, dela Rosa 4, Roman 3, Bade 2, Bambrick 0, Ozar 0.

CHINESE TAIPEI-B 94 – Tai 19, Jhang 17, Yu 14, Liu 14, Lin 9, Shih 4, Chen 4, Huang 0, Lin 0, Yang 0, Chen 0.

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