Gilas Pilipinas Women has yet another gamer in the squad.
All eyes will be on Duke Blue Devils star guard Vanessa de Jesus when she makes her debut for Gilas Pilipinas Women in the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup that is set to tip off on June 26 in Australia.
Deservedly so, as de Jesus’s pedigree makes her arguably the most high-profile addition to Pat Aquino’s hard-fighting squad of hoopers.
And, for a handful of players, that burden of expectations can be overwhelming—if not intimidating.
Not for VDJ, apparently.
“They always say ‘Pressure makes diamonds,’ and for me it’s not about worrying about that pressure [but] understanding that I put in the work, I put in the time, and that brings me the confidence I have in the player I am,” said de Jesus in her press conference on Tuesday announcing her commitment to Gilas Women.
The 5-foot-8 junior is also drawing confidence from a team that she has never played with in her entire life, mostly because she knows that, like her, the ladies of Gilas Women are also hard at work.
“I also know the team is putting in the work right now, and that should just bring us confidence as a team and not worrying about the expectations of others and just focusing on ourselves and understanding that we’re ready for this moment and we’ve been working for it,” said the Fil-Am guard.
She is right. She has been working long and hard for these big moments. So are her Gilas Women teammates. So, forgive de Jesus for being supremely confident.
“Whatever pressures or doubts won’t interfere with us when we finally step on the court and get ready to play because we’re ready for it,” she vowed.
Maybe they are. The rest of us will find out soon enough.
(GM)