Perlas competes for slot in Group A of FIBA Asia Women’s Championship

After a disappointing stint in the South East Asian Games, Perlas Pilipinas sets foot on a new journey in China as the 2015 FIBA Asia Women’s Championship kicks off on August 29 in Wuhan, China.

The Philippines is in Group B along with Sri Lanka, North Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan. Group B is the second tier of the tournament.

The best case for the nationals is to earn a play-off for promotion to Group A, where the powerhouse teams like China, Korea, and Japan are playing.

Also in Group A are India, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand, which earned a promotion in 2013, when they topped Group B and defeated then Group A’s Kazakhstan, 67-53.

India was also placed in a relegation match although they survived Malaysia, 74-59 to remain in Group A.

Perlas finished with a 3-2 slate in Group B in the 2013 edition of the tournament in Thailand.

The Philippines will open its campaign against Malaysia on August 29, followed by North Korea on August 30, Sri Lanka on August 31, Hong Kong on September 1, and Kazakhstan on September 2.

Bannering Perlas is the core of the Southeast Asian Games squad, which includes Afril Bernardino, Ewon Arayi, Analyn Almazan, Danica Jose, and Sofia Roman.