After the boys, it’s the girls’ turn to compete in FIBA competition from June 24-30 in Amman, Jordan.
After 11 years, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will field a team in the FIBA Women’s Under-16 Asian Championship.
Competing in Division B the girls of program director Patrick Aquino will look to shock the continent and be promoted to the top tier.
Headlining the team is Ella Fajardo’s sister Ava. Ava is a 5-foot-4 guard who plays for Gill St. Bernard.
Meanwhile, Fil-Am Nation Select also brought nine Filipino-American prospects back home.
Six-foot-one Samantha Medina of Medowdale High School headlines the crew.
Also joining the team are 6-footer Gabriella Ramos (Clovis East), 5-foot-11 Emaleena Elson (Portola), 5-foot-9 Kristan Yumul (Oxnard), 5-foot-9 Sierra Patricio (Bill Crothers), 5-foot-8 Hannah Lopez (Denmark), 5-foot-8 Kailah Oani (St. Joseph), 5-foot-7 Ryan Nair (Woodcreek), and 5-foot-4 Naomi Panganiban (La Jolla Country Day).
Completing the squad are 5-foot-6 Nazareth School of National University standout BJ Villarin and 5-foot-3 Miriam College guard Camille Nolasco.
Gilas will take on Indonesia, Syria, and Samoa — in that order. The top team in the pool will advance to the semis while the bottom two teams will have to go through a crossover playoff either against Kazakhstan, Iran, Jordan, or Lebanon.
The team will be coached by Julie Amos.
The Philippines finished in sixth place during the 2011 edition of the tournament in Urumqi.
