THE Gilas Pilipinas women’s squad is raring to prove its gold medal triumph– its first– in the last Southeast Asian Games at home soil was no fluke.
Coach Pat Aquino said the Filipinas are set to hit the ground running anew to prepare for several international tournaments next year.
“The SBP is very supportive of us in our coming tournaments and I’m very happy to hear that,” Aquino said yesterday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
“We’re just waiting and looking forward, preparing all the plans and getting all the players for the tournaments again,” he added.
Gilas women standouts Janine Pontejos and Camille Clarin said they are out to help the team annex a second straight mint in the Vietnam SEA Games next year.
“Pinag-hirapan namin iyon kaya kailangan naming mai-defend iyon (the title),” Pontejos said.
“Definitely, I would love to be a part of that gold medal (team). We have a great program going for us,” Clarin said.
With Aquino calling the shots, Gilas stunned Thailand to bag the gold in the final of the Manila SEA Games in 2019.
Aquino is convinced they will be ready for their title-retention bid.
“It would be very helpful for us coming into the SEA Games. Ganyan din iyong nangyari sa amin noong 2019 with all those tournaments in the FIBA Asia, to the pre-qualifying tournaments in New Zealand, and the SEA Games,” Aquino said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“So, looking forward, nandiyan iyong preparasyon natin sa SEA Games.”
The nationals will likely buckle down to work by mid-November to toughen up for the 2022 qualifying tournament of the FIBA Women’s World Cup set from Feb. 6 to 14, although the venue has yet to be named.
The Women’s World Cup will take place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 next year in Australia.
Aquino, 50, is hoping his charges will finally be allowed to play in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September also next year.
