They're finally at full strength.
Prized recruit Vanessa de Jesus finally got in the lab with her Gilas Pilipinas Women’s teammates—with just a week to go before the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup tips off in Australia on June 26.
And, on Tuesday, Gilas Women posted on Instagram a video showing snippets of de Jesus’s first two days practicing with the national team, who is aiming to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“@vanessadejesus1 joins the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team 🏀,” wrote Gilas Women in the post’s caption. “Inspired by Kobe Bryant’s wisdom, she’s bringing the fire, confidence, and relentless preparation to leave her mark on the court. Here are some snippets from her first two days with the team as we prep for @fibaasiacupwomen next week!”
That wisdom the caption is alluding to is Bryant’s take on the value of preparation.
“Confidence comes from preparation, so when the game’s on the line, I’m not asking myself to do something that I haven’t done thousands of times before,” said Bryant’s voiceover accompanying the video. “When I prepare, I know what I’m capable of doing, I know what I’m comfortable doing, and I know what I’m not comfortable doing. So, in those moments if it looks like I’m ice cold or not nervous, it’s because I’ve done it a thousand times before.”
The short video, incidentally, is among the very first times de Jesus is seen rocking the Gilas jersey—something fans have been looking forward to ever since she announced her intention to represent the Philippines internationally.
Now, the road to Paris has officially begun for Gilas Pilipinas Women.