Once the clock strikes 2:50pm on Friday, history will have been made. For the first time in Philippine history, a women’s team will compete in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
For years, Coach Patrick Aquino’s Perlas program has been overshadowed. Even if the team competes at the highest level in world basketball, it has yet to have the same recognition as the so-called “mainstream” sports.
And come the 3×3 World Cup, the team consisting of Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino, Gemma Miranda, and Janine Pontejos are out to prove a point: that they belong.
“We just want to show the Philippines that we have a good team and that we can get to this kind of level,” Aquino shared.
“A lot of promises has been said but I just want to tell you that the girls are just willing and they’re pouring their heart out for this game.”
“Hindi kami kasama sa Asian Games so siguro ito na ‘yung time namin na ipakita na hindi lang puro men’s, meron ding say ang babae pagdating sa basketball,” added Animam, the reigning UAAP Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player. “Yung attention na binibigay nila sa men’s, dapat ganyan din sa mga babae na naglalaro ng basketball.
“Lahat naman kami dito lumalaban hindi para sa sarili pero para sa bansa, so ito ipapakita namin kung ano meron ang Pilipino – lalo na sa mga babae na nagba-basketball – na suportahan nila kami kasi para sa ating lahat ito.”
However, Perlas 3×3 has a tough task ahead. The team is grouped in Pool D together with fourth-ranked Hungary, Netherlands (5th), Germany (12th), and Spain (13th).
Knowing this, the team has been training since January of this year — longer than their men’s counterpart.
“They’re all tough teams. We’re in the Group of Death in the women’s division. Netherlands is number one, Spain is number one in Europe. I guess we just have to do well and prove ourselves that we belong in this level,” opined Aquino.
“Sabi ko nga, yung level is higher. The objective of being in a higher level is you learn more and experience those kind of games to improve ourselves, not only dito ka lang, ‘di ka na aangat.
“Our goal, ako as a coach, I want the girls to improve more and go to this level na you could compete not only Asian, but also internationally,” he added.
Besides proving that they belong on the international stage, what Perlas is fighting for is the respect of its fellow countrymen.
“Siyempre masaya kami kasi home court eh, atin ito. Doon palang sa thought na dito gaganapin ‘yung World Cup, ‘yung morale namin na-boost na kasi alam namin na maraming Pilipino na sobrang basketball geek, talagang magsusupport sila,” said the 19-year-old Animam.
“Lalo na home court parang ayaw namin sayangin ‘yung chance na ito para ipakita sa mundo kung ano ang meron ang Pilipino sa basketball and lalo na pagdating sa women’s basketball.”
