Gilas Women will target another great showing, this time with the U23 3x3 team seeing action in the upcoming FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup.
The Gilas Women U23 3x3 team will be digging deep for inspiration as they aim to turn heads at the upcoming FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup in China.
Seeing action first at the Pilipinas United 3x3 League later this weekend, Tin Cayabyab said that they are raring to put the Philippines on the youth 3x3 map, channeling inspiration from the senior Gilas Women's team that stayed in Division A of FIBA Asia and gained a spot in the World Cup qualifiers..
“Malaking factor sa amin na nakikita namin na umaangat na talaga yung women’s basketball natin dito sa Pilipinas. Nakaka-inspire kasi kahit papano, nags-stay tayo kung ano yung standard natin,” Cayabyab said.
[READ: Gilas Women U23 3x3 team amp up World Cup preparations in Pilipinas United 3x3 League]
Flanked by a similarly youthful roster, the main Gilas Women team were able to finish in the top-6 of the Asia Cup, which meant a spot in the qualifiers for the FIBA Women’s World Cup next year in Germany.
Having caught the attention of the 3x3 world with their impressive performances at the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League, Cayabyab and the rest of the team are now also raring to continue the winning tradition for the Gilas Women.
Though operating on a different program, the Gilas Women squads are fighting for the same thing: that is, to continue elevating women’s basketball in the country.
Joined by Elainte Etang, Cheska Apag, Jam Meniano, Kacey Dela Rosa, and Cielo Pagdulagan, the Gilas Women U23 3x3 team will hope to keep themselves at the top of their game.
“Alam natin na kaya pa natin iangat yung level ng women’s basketball natin dito sa Pilipinas and pati na rin sa 3x3,” she said.
Before the World Cup, the young Gilas Women will test their mettle in the women’s division of the Pilipinas United 3x3 League, where they face teams with older and more experienced players from Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam as well as other Filipino teams.