Gilas women ripe for SEA Games gold

MANILA, Philippines — Having won two of the last three gold medals in women’s basketball, Gilas Pilipinas women head coach Pat Aquino said the team is formidable enough to get that gold once again in this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

After back-to-back gold medal finishes in the competition, Philippines settled for a silver medal in the 2023 Cambodia Games to Indonesia.

In an interview at the sidelines of the SEA Games Athletes send-off at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila Friday, Aquino said that he believes his squad has the advantage against preliminary group-mates Malaysia and Singapore.

“Well, it's again a different scenario now. Most of us are local. Walang mga foreign players, walang mga… darating na lang mga Amerikano. So, it's an even turf for me,” he told reporters.

“So, it's a good tournament for me. I think we have the talent and the capability of getting that gold again. Yeah, I just told them now about it. And hopefully, all the talents that I have now can really step up. And most of the other teams naman din are local,” he added.

Previous reports said that hosts Vietnam would not be allowing naturalized players for basketball teams in the 5-on-5 action. This was also confirmed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino on Friday, which means that Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame will not be suiting up for the five-a-side team.

Kouame, though, will still be in action in 3×3.

Jamie Malonzo, Tolentino said, might not see action for Gilas.

Aquino, however, said that with naturalized players not allowed in women’s basketball, Gilas has clear advantage over Malaysia and Singapore.

“I think we’re more… yung advantage natin because of their experience now with the FIBA games that they had, previously. Now, we’re up there in level A and those people in the Southeast Asian are in level B,” he told Philstar.com.

“So I think we have a great one step ahead of them. That's the thing right now.”

The women’s team will be spearheaded by Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos and Kacey dela Rosa.