Two big international meets are awaiting the Gilas Pilipinas national women’s team.
And with Jack Animam being unable to suit up this time around, the Gilas women’s squad is set to go into bubble training this week at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
The first tournament will be the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup from September 27 to October 3 in Amman, Jordan.
Then, the Patrick Aquino-coach Gilas will join the 2021 FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup from October 11 to 15 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
They will miss Animam, a long-time member of the national team since she just signed a contract to play as an import for Radnicki Kragujevac in Serbia.
Because of this, there will be new faces in the team from among the 12 players who have received invites to join the bubble.
“You have to start early to get experience for these kids. From what we saw from the men’s Gilas team, they made great surprises. Perhaps we can make surprises as well,” said Aquino in a statement.
The national squad will be bannered by Ella Fajardo, Ann Pingol, Kristine Cayabyab, and Camille Clarin.
The 5’5” Fajardo, 18, will be the team’s court general, while Clarin, 20, a 5’10” winger, was the Rookie of the Year for National University in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Cayabyab, at 18, is a 5’9” guard-forward, while Pingol is a 19-year-old winger.
Being the most experienced players, the three will lead their younger teammates as they also get ready for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2021 in Mongolia this October.
The squad will also have veterans Afril Bernardino, Chack Cabinbin, Khate Castillo, Clare Castro, Ria Nabalan, Janine Pontejos, Mar Prado and Andrea Tongco.
