Gilas Women failed their biggest test to date in the 19th Asian Games basketball competitions after being on the receiving end of a 96-59 whipping from Japan, Sunday night at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in China.
The disparity in experience was glaring right from the jump when the continental powerhouse opened things up with 11 straight points, eventually ending the first quarter with a 35-14 lead to set the tone for the blowout.
Janine Pontejos was the Philippines’ lone double-digit scorer with 13 points in the loss, which snapped their unbeaten two-game winning streak.
Still, the wards of Coach Pat Aquino are bound for the quarterfinals on Monday, October 2, as they clinched their place among the tourney’s top eight teams.
Their opponents will be determined once the group stage wraps up later tonight.
Remaining unscathed, meanwhile, are the Japanese as they won their third game in as many outings to clinch the no. 1 seed in Group B.
Aika Hirashita led the balanced attack with a game-high 26 points in only 21 minutes off the bench. Saki Hayashi contributed 17 points.
Himawari Akaho finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Anri Hoshi chipped in 10 markers as four players scored in double figures.
All but one scored at least two points in the victory that saw Akatsuki Japan dish out 33 assists and nail a total of 14 three-pointers.
But it wasn’t just their offense that spelled wonders as the team of Coach Toru Onzuka forced Gilas Women to 24 turnovers, which they turned to 34 points.
The Scores:
Philippines (59) – Pontejos 13, Animam 9, Cabinbin 9, Castillo 8, del Carmen 6, Ozar 5, Cacho 4, Tongco 3, Bernardino 2, Berberabe 0, Guytingco 0, Nolasco 0.
Japan (96) – Hirashita 26, Hayashi 17, Akaho 12, Hoshi 10, Todo 8, Motohashi 7, Miyazaki 5, Okoye 4, Takada 3, Asahina 2, Yabu 2, Kawai 0.
Quarterscores: 14-35, 26-50, 39-66, 59-96.
