Dropping all five matches in the 2019 Women’s Jones Cup in New Taipei City will not stall the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s squad as it prepares for forthcoming international competitions.
“We did not win a game in the Jones Cup, but the fact that we were there for the first time means we gained the experience,” said head coach Pat Aquino in Tuesday’ Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Amelie Hotel Manila.
The Filipina dribblers saw action in the Jones Cup for the first time, and with very little time to train as a team. They then lost to New Zealand, Japan, Taipei A, South Korea, and Taipei B in succession.
Japan won the title with a 5-0 record.
“We had a tough time because it was the first time for our players, including the Fil-Americans, to play together. It was a short tournament. Our players had a tough time communicating inside the court,” said Aquino.
“That was our problem,” said Aquino, a five-time champion with National University in the UAAP. He is now in charge of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program for women’s basketball.
Aquino said he watched his team compete in the Jones Cup knowing that there’s so much to improve on.
“We did not have the chemistry and the fluidity. The talent is there. It’s just that the other teams had chemistry,” he added of the squad that is bound to compete in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Bangalore, India from Sept. 22 to 29.
Then next in line is the 30th SEA Games, which the Philippines is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
“We will be a much better team heading to the SEA Games. I hope we can deliver in December,” said Aquino during the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel and Pagcor.
