Gilas Pilipinas Women bounce back with dominant rebounding performance against Thailand

The Gilas Pilipinas Women bounced back in the 2024 William Jones Cup Women’s Basketball Tournament, securing a convincing 68-58 victory over Thailand on Tuesday at Xinzhuang Gymnasium. This win evens their record at 2-2 in the six-team tournament.

Coming off a heartbreaking 83-85 loss to Japan on Monday, Gilas displayed resilience and a dominant presence on the boards.

Jack Animam played a monster game for Gilas, leading the team with a dominant double-double of 10 points and a staggering 21 rebounds, adding two steals to her stat line.

The rest of the team showcased a well-balanced scoring attack, with Naomi Panganiban and Camille Nolasco contributing nine points each. Panganiban further impressed with six assists, orchestrating the offense effectively.

Other notable performances included Gabby Ramos (8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists), Louna Ozar (7 points, 3 rebounds), and a collective effort from Ana Castillo (6 points), Janine Pontejos (6 points), and Stefanie Berberabe (5 points) who combined for 22 points off the bench.

Veteran Afril Bernardino, while not a top scorer this game and only scored five markers, chipped in with a valuable 17 rebounds to solidify Gilas’ dominance on the boards.

Thailand’s Sasiporn Wongtapha led their scoring with 18 points and nine rebounds, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Gilas’ strong overall performance.

The Philippines controlled the game from the start, establishing a commanding 17-8 lead after the first quarter. While Thailand attempted a comeback in the second half, closing the gap to 27-24 at halftime, Gilas responded with a strong third quarter, extending their lead to 50-38. Thailand continued to fight in the final period, but the Philippines maintained their composure and secured a comfortable victory.

Statistical dominance on the boards played a key role in Gilas’ success. With a total of 63 rebounds compared to Thailand’s 41, the Philippines effectively controlled the paint and limited second-chance opportunities for their opponents.

Additionally, Gilas outperformed Thailand in three-point shooting, connecting on 10 out of 43 attempts (23.3%) compared to Thailand’s 4 out of 22 (18.2%). However, their free-throw shooting needs improvement, with only 2 successful attempts out of 12 (16.7%) compared to Thailand’s 12 out of 14 shooting, an impressive 85.7% conversion rate.

This win marks a significant turnaround for Gilas Pilipinas Women after their previous defeat. They displayed resilience, teamwork, and a strong defensive performance. With their record back at .500, the Philippines will look to continue their momentum in the last day of the tournament against the host team, Chinese Taipei – A.