POKUS sa training ang Gilas Pilipinas women’s basketball team para depensahan ang kanilang korona sa darating na Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pebrero pa lang ay nagsasanay na ang Gilas women sa pangunguna nina Janine Pontejos at Ella Fajardo, para sa 31st SEA Games sa Mayo 12-23. Kabilang din sa team sina Clare Castro, Khate Castillo, Chack Cabinbin, Andrea Tongco, Camille Clarin, Kristine Cayabyab, Karl Ann Pingol at Angel Surada.
“They would know how to play together and the chemistry and everything just being together for a longer time,” wika ni Gilas Women head coach Patrick Aquino via Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas website. “Hopefully, all those time na magkakasama kami, magawa namin lahat nang kailangan namin gawin.”
Noong 2019 edition ng biennial meet sa bansa ay umukit ng kasaysayan ang Gilas women nang masungkit ang unang gold medal sa SEAG. Tinalo ng mga Pinay ang Thailand sa iskor na 91-71.
Umaasa si Aquino na madedepensahan ng national women’s squad ang kanilang titulo pagdayo sa Vietnam.
“It’s an awesome experience every time na we will be having a tournament like now, in the Southeast Asian Games. It’s exciting and medyo pressure since you’re the defending champion, and we hope na makuha natin yung gold,” aniya.
“Everybody is going to be at us and they really want to take that gold away from us. We’ll try to do our very best. I think the kids are doing a lot of things just to get that gold again.” dagdag pa ng Gilas women coach.
Ito ay sa kabila na hindi makakasama ng team ang sentro na si Jack Animam na nagpapagaling pa sa knee injury, at isa pang key player na si Mai-Loni Henson na naglalaro sa France tourney. (ANN ENCARNACION)
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