Vanessa De Jesus’ spectacular debut was not sufficient as Gilas Pilipinas Women fell prey to host Australia, 105-34, to kick off their 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Monday on the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
De Jesus, who performs for Duke University within the US NCAA Division I, completed with a team-high 18 factors alongside two blocks to be the one Filipina to achieve the double-digit mark.
Gilas now stands at 0-1 in Group B whereas Australia opened its bid with a 1-0 card. The Philippines might want to end a minimum of on the third spot within the group stage with a purpose to advance to the playoffs.
Down 23 early, the 21-year-old De Jesus instigated a mini rally courtesy of three straight three-pointers to trim their deficit to only 18, 38-20, with 4:04 left within the second interval.
But the world no. 3 Opals countered with an enormous 18-3 closing rampage to take a 56-23 halftime lead earlier than they unleashed a cruel basketball within the third body, limiting the Filipinas to only 5 factors for a whopping 78-28 lead forward of the payoff interval.
During that interval, solely Chack Cabinbin scored a area purpose for the Philippines because the hosts have been unstoppable on each ends.
Veterans Afril Bernardino and Cabinbin every completed with simply 4 factors as Jack Animam, Khate Castillo, and Ella Fajardo have been held to scoreless outings.
Darcee Garbin led Australia with 18 factors, eight rebounds, and two assists whereas Lauren Scherf chipped in 17 markers. Australia outrebounded Gilas Pilipinas, 62 to 22, whereas additionally having 31 assists in opposition to the Philippines’ three.
Gilas will look to bounce again on Tuesday, however it is going to be a taller job because it takes on five-time reigning Asia Cup champion Japan at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time).
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
