After Australia, Gilas Pilipinas Women face another giant in Japan at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in China.
Kent Pastrana and Jack Animam will try to lift Gilas Pilipinas Women from a brutal opening loss as they take on world no. 9 Japan in Group B action of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Monday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Shenzhen Sports Center in China.
Coming off a 115-39 shellacking against World No. 2 Australia in their tournament debut, the young Gilas squad braces for another daunting challenge—but one they hope to meet with renewed resolve.
Pastrana showed flashes of promise in her national team debut, finishing with eight points to match youth team graduate Naomi Panganiban.
The UST standout will now aim to build on that performance and give Gilas a fighting chance against the Akatsuki Five.
Veteran big Jack Animam, who went just 1-of-11 from the field against the towering Opals, will also seek a bounce-back game.
Her leadership and presence inside will be crucial if Gilas is to compete against Japan’s disciplined and dynamic style.
Japan, meanwhile, is coming off a shaky 72-68 win over Lebanon in their opener, with Minami Yabu leading the charge with 19 points.
While not their sharpest outing, the four-time Asia Cup champions remain a heavy favorite and will look to tighten up against Gilas.
For Gilas Pilipinas Women, a strong showing—even in the face of long odds—could help them stay in contention to retain their spot in Division A and build toward a brighter future on the continental stage.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]