Unphased on the global stage, the Gilas Pilipinas Women ousted Chinese Taipei in a 92-81 victory at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre last June 28, 2023. Procuring a convincing performance, the national squad secured their maiden win in the final matchup of the tournament’s group stages, following a Division A promotion last 2017.
After dropping their first two games in the hands of top-ranked Australia (no. 3) and Japan (no. 9), the Women’s national roster looked to defeat Chinese Taipei to keep their Division A hopes alive. The two nations previously clashed at the tournament’s 2021 rendition, with Gilas succumbing to a 41-point loss in the hands of their Asian rivals.
Gilas Pilipinas dominated all four quarters of the contest, closing in on a fleeting Chinese Taipei lead late in the first. Duke University Blue Devil Vanessa De Jesus racked 25 points, as National University’s Afril Bernardino contributed 18 markers en route to a June 30 classification matchup against New Zealand.
Coming off a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double, Jack Animam led the Patrick Aquino roster in efficiency with +29. The Gilas Pilipinas veteran burst into tears following the victory, noting the experience to transcend beyond her previous achievements in both the local and international scene.
“Sobrang special ang panalo na ito. I think this is the number one,” she tells CNN Philippines. “Come to think of it now, kakabalik ko lang dito sa FIBA Asia after missing the last edition since I had my ACL and to just play this game grabe, ang sarap sa pakiramdam.”
