Three veteran Gilas Pilipinas women players face the possibility of missing out on the Jones Cup and the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Uncertainty clouds the Gilas Pilipinas women pool ahead of two tournaments next month due to some of the players currently fulfilling duties for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Janine Pontejos and Chack Cabinbin are enlisted members of the Philippine Army while WMPBL MVP Afril Bernardino is in the Philippine Navy.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas need to secure the appropriate clearances from the AFP for the aforementioned players to compete in the upcoming Jones Cup and FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in July.
Though SBP said that they are staying on top of the situation, the decision remains uncertain as the clearance process is currently stalled.
But as far as Gilas Pilipinas women head coach Pat Aquino is concerned, the team is ready to face whatever the circumstance, and that the team is now employing a status quo with Pontejos, Cabinbin, and Bernardino.
“Well, SBP is really coordinating now with AFP and the Department of National Defense about the situation. So it’s about how the situation is going on and hopefully, you know, everything will push through with that. If not, we’re still preparing for that and things… It doesn’t change anything. We’ll have to prepare for it and hopefully, we’ll give out the best," Aquino said during the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup trophy tour press conference in Pasay.
“Everybody’s optimistic. We’ve practice every day together and sana everybody’s close, you know, and that’s the main objective. Sabi nga ni ED kanina, we’re fixing it out, hopefully it pushes through that’s it.”
Despite the team needing to deal with the possible absence of key cogs in the team, Aquino is also seeing an opportunity for younger players on the roster to step in if necessary, especially with youth program products Sumayah Sugapong and Naomi Panganiban also in Gilas’ 20-woman pool.
With more than a few choices to choose from for their final rosters for both the Jones Cup and the Women’s Asia Cup.
“Very big, very big [opportunity]. Especially again, I couldn’t be prouder of the program that we’re doing right now, the transition from the youth program going to the senior program, that’s a big big plus for everybody," said Aquino, who also has UAAP standouts Kent Pastrana and Yvette Villanueva in the pool for the first time.
“You know, having to not get new [players] at the time going to the seniors, but going to [players] who know the program already, know the system already and having to play international already, that’s a big plus,” he added.
Both Sugapong and Panganiban were pivotal parts of youth teams that helped the Philippines get promoted to Division A in the Asian level at both the U18 and U16 divisions.
Still, Aquino will have one familiar veteran at the helm in big Jack Animam, who will be coming in with a wealth of experience after her most recent stint in Europe.
Though regaining her bearings at the moment with some rest and relaxation in Cebu, Aquino said that his trusty player will be returning soon to join the national team and lead the Filipina cagers anew in Asia’s biggest stage.
“Jack is just resting for a while. I think she had a six-month grueling season in Romania and we’ve said yeah, it’s okay, have that good body rest and hopefully when you come back, fresh and ready to go," he said.
The Jones Cup is slated in Taiwan beginning July 2 while the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup is from July 13 to 20 in Shenzhen, China.