05-07-2025
Gilas Women fall to Japan to bow out of Jones Cup contention
Gilas Pilipinas Women ended its title dream at the 2025 William Jones Cup after absorbing a tough 94-74 blowout loss to powerhouse Japan Universiade on Saturday in Taiwan.
The Filipinas fell to a 1-3 card to formally bow out of contention while the Japanese collegiate ballclub preserved its spotless run with a 4-0 card. Both teams have one more game each left with the Philippines taking on Chinese Taipei (collegiate) and Japan squad facing the Chinese Taipei national team on Sunday.
Gilas kept it close in the first half as the wards of head coach Patrick Aquino held a slim 46-44 lead with veteran center Jack Animam fronting the offense with 15 points in the first two quarters.
But a flat second half doomed the Philippines' bid against the Japanese team as the latter built a 66-58 third quarter lead thanks to a perfect shooting from Suzuno Higuchi, who dropped seven points in that frame.
Maika Miura and Ufuoma Tanaka then took over in the fourth period, starring in their 28-point blast that sealed their fourth win in as many games.
Animam ended up tallying a huge double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds together with two steals and one assist while Naomi Panganiban and Louna Ozar chipped in 14 and 11 markers apiece.
For the part of Japan Universiade, it was a balanced attack with Miura leading the charge with 12 points as Higuchi, Tanaka, Haru Owaki, and Azusa Asahina all finished with 11 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
