Gilas women coach looking for players in US

Patrick Aquino, coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s Team, is determined at defending the women’s basketball gold in the delayed 31^st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

Aquino flew to the United States to look for women cagers with Filipino heritage to help fill the vacancy left by the team’s top center Jack Animam.

The 6’5” Animam will miss the 31^st SEA Games slated for May in Vietnam as she needs to undergo rehabilitation from the operation on the ACL injury she sustained during a game in the Serbian league.

“She can contribute so much. She’s a big factor. We’re just hoping na makabalik na siya,” said Aquino.

Aquino said his main priority is the Asian Games in September in China.

“Defending champion tayo sa SEA Games kaya dapat ding paghandaan, but the goal is to compete at the highest level. First time tayo maglalaro in the history of the Asian Games, dapat maganda ang maipakita natin,” Aquino said.

The multi-titled mentor of the National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines said he will conduct tryouts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago for the Under-16 and Under-18 teams.

For the SEA Games’ squad, he already has several prospects, including Gabi Bade, daughter of former Philippine Basketball Association player Chris Bade. Gabi, who played US NCAA Division basketball with the Sacramento State, is coming off a professional stint in Cyprus.

Other prospects include Mylony Henson from University of Washington, former MVP of the US NCAA Division 2 Stephanie Berberabe, Malia Bambrick from Pepperdine and Leila Phelia from Michigan U.

“I hope I can get more. ‘Yung iba kasi du’n wala pang passport, kaya minamadali namin, sana maihabol,” added Aquino, who has been the national women’s Gilas team mentor since 2015.

Still with the team are homegrown players Afryl Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Kate Castillo, Gemma Miranda, Andrea Tongco, Ella May Fajardo, Christine Cayabyab, Camille Clarin and center Claire Castro.

“Maganda itong nangyayari sa amin na nakakapaglaro na kami despite the pandemic,” said Aquino, whose squad made the Asian Games cut following a decent finish in the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in October last year in Amman, Jordan.