Notre Dame point guard Vanessa de Jesus admits Gilas Pilipinas will face tall odds in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup against the likes of Australia and Japan.
Everybody loves an underdog — and so does Notre Dame and Gilas Pilipinas Women point guard Vanessa de Jesus.
Going up against regional powerhouses Australia and Japan in their first two games in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup beginning this weekend, de Jesus knows that there’s a lot of ground to make up for herself and the Filipina ballers.
Not one to shy away from adversity, de Jesus is eager to step up to the challenge.
“Yeah, for us, you know, [it’s about] taking every game one by one, and I think just playing our heart out. I think even though we're a new team and maybe the youngest in the tournament, people might underestimate us, but I think it's a good thing,” de Jesus said after Gilas’ final training session in Manila on Thursday.
“I love being the underdog, and I think we'll surprise some people.”
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Along with Gilas Women veteran Jack Animam, de Jesus is expected to fill in a new role this time around: a leader.
Due to availability issues, a number of national team stalwarts like Afril Bernardino, Chack Cabinbin, Andrea Tongco, and Janine Pontejos, will not be able to join the latest push by the Gilas Women to make their mark in Asian basketball.
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Having been here before, de Jesus now owns the tag of being one of the more experienced girls in the team. In other words, a lot more of her teammates will rely on her to keep them steady.
Though unfamiliar with that position in the national team, de Jesus believes she and the girls will cope just fine.
“I know, it's kind of weird to think that, you know, I'm not the newbie anymore,” de Jesus quipped.
“Just especially for us vets like me, Jack, Ate Khate [Castillo], Ella [Fajardo] and Louna [Ozar], who've done it before, we're just trying to be someone they can lean on, especially with all the young players that we have, and just kind of just supporting one another. And I think, even though we're young, we have a really talented group, and I think we can do really well this tournament,” she added.
On the line for the national team will be keeping themselves in Division A in the tournament, where all levels of Gilas Women are currently competing at — including both the U16 and U18 squads.
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But also at stake are slots in the qualifying tournament of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup slated in Germany next year. Gilas will need to finish 6th in the tournament to give themselves a chance to make it to the sport’s biggest stage.
However, standing in their way in their first two games are the Opals and the Akatsuki Five.
For de Jesus, it’s a perfect chance to measure themselves against two of the best teams in the sport — not just in Asia, but in the world.
“You know, [they’re] both really good teams, both Olympic-level teams, and I think it'll be a really good test for us building up in the tournament. And for us, just focusing on ourselves and what we do well, and just going out there and giving our best,” she said.
Gilas faces the Opals first on Sunday, July 13.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE | Gilas Pilipinas Women at 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup]