A couple of blue-bloods will make their national team debut in the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Duke’s Vanessa de Jesus and Ateneo’s Jhazmin Joson are part of Gilas Women’s final 12 for the continental meet that has four Paris Olympics tickets at stake for the semifinalists and relegation for the bottom team to Division B.
De Jesus and Joson are both incoming seniors in their respective schools.
Joson was part of the UAAP Season 85 Mythical Team.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines’ Louna Ozar will make her seniors team debut as well. The 19-year-old was part of the Gilas Girls team that competed in the 2022 U18 Asian Championship.
Veterans Afril Bernardino, Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Khate Castillo will serve as the leaders of the team.
Completing the squad are young guns Camille Clarin, Ella Fajardo, Mikka Cacho, and Angel Surada.
The team has been figuring in tune-ups in Sydney for the entire week in preparation for the tall task at hand.
The team coached by Patrick Aquino will take on Australia (June 26), Japan (June 27), and Chinese Taipei (June 28). The top three teams advancing to the playoffs.
The bottom squad in the two pools will figure in a promotion-relegation match.
