Gilas Pilipinas Women end Jones Cup with hard-fought loss to Chinese Taipei – A
The Gilas Pilipinas Women’s journey in the 2024 William Jones Cup Women’s Basketball Tournament ended with a 82-66 defeat against Chinese Taipei A on Wednesday.
Despite showcasing valiant efforts throughout the tournament, they finish with a 2-3 record.
Japan, who remained undefeated throughout the competition, secured the championship title. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei A claimed the second-place spot.
Naomi Panganiban, shining brightly as a newcomer to the senior team, led the Philippines in scoring with a remarkable 19 points. She also contributed four rebounds and two assists.
Veterans Afril Bernardino and Stefanie Berberabe chipped in with 12 points each. Jack Animam tallied eight points and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the strong showing by Chinese Taipei A.
The game started with a dominant performance by Chinese Taipei A, establishing a significant lead of 26-10 by the end of the first quarter. While Gilas attempted to close the gap in the second half, trailing 47-32 at halftime, they continued to face an uphill battle.
The Philippines displayed commendable resilience in the third quarter, chipping away at the deficit and narrowing the gap to 13 points (62-49). They even pushed the lead down to single digits in the fourth quarter (62-53). However, a late surge from Chinese Taipei A, fueled by three-pointers, sealed the victory for the home team.
Lin Yuting and Xu Shihan played a crucial role in Chinese Taipei A’s success, contributing 15 and 9 points respectively, with both players showcasing their accuracy from beyond the arc.
Looking at the statistics, a stark difference in three-point shooting is evident. While Gilas managed only 2 successful three-pointers out of 13 attempts (11.8%), Chinese Taipei A capitalized on their outside shooting, converting 8 out of 15 attempts (53.3%). This disparity, combined with Chinese Taipei’s strong start, proved to be a decisive factor in the outcome.
While the outcome wasn’t what Gilas Pilipinas Women had hoped for, their performance throughout the tournament displayed flashes of potential. The young guns, particularly Panganiban, showcased their talent and promise for the future. Veteran leadership combined with the development of these rising stars will be key for the Philippines in future international competitions.
