The Filipinas essayed a rousing win against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
It was just one win, but Gilas Pilipinas Women coach Pat Aquino felt like his team belongs among the continent’s elite after getting their first win in the FIBA Womens' Asia Cup in Australia.
Responsible for the Philippine women’s basketball rise over the years, Aquino had this to say in the aftermath of a 92-81 win over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
“It feels like we belong now,” he said in an interview with One Sports’ Paolo del Rosario on Wednesday.
Coming off a silver-medal finish in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, Gilas knew they needed to come back big time.
While that was derailed by a couple of lopsided losses against Asian powerhouses Japan and Australia, the resolve never waned.
“It started when we lost in the Southeast Asian games. We had a mindset that we have to come back better. Even Jack (Animam) and Afril (Bernardino) were telling me, ‘Coach, bawi tayo’,” he said.
That’s why after the final buzzer rang, Animam was seen crying as she gave her teammates warm, tight victory hugs.
“I think this is the time that, for Jack, after coming back from a knee injury, it’s the first time she really played that well,” he said of the 6-foot-5 center, who finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
“I’m just happy that everybody followed the game plan, the way we played, the hustle. Sabi ko nga, we showed everyone today we can play this kind of level.”
Although they revel in this latest milestone, the Philippines will now shift its focus on the qualification round against the No. 2 seed in Group A.
The game is set on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
“I just hope that we play again this kind of game and show everybody we can win,” Aquino said.
(GM)