Members of the Gilas Pilipinas Girls group throughout an open coaching with the lads’s group on Thursday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRERnet
Hardened by a few tournaments up to now two months, nationwide coach Pat Aquino believes that his expenses are going to take advantage of out of their debut within the nineteenth Asian Video games.
“The women are actually wanting to play. Particularly this being our first-ever Asian Video games look. They need to characterize the nation effectively,” he instructed the Inquirer shortly after observe at Aero Heart in Quezon Metropolis on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Jones Cup and the Korea stint have been nice measuring instruments for us going into the Asian Video games. We needed our new gamers to achieve expertise as lots of them are new to what we’re doing. So these tournaments gave us one thing heading into Hangzhou,” he added.
The Girls’s squad is bunched with regional powerhouse Japan, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong in Group B play that unfurls on Sept. 27 at Shaoxing Olympic Sports activities Centre Gymnasium.
Gilas takes on the Kazakhs first, however Aquino is discovering consolation in having to see that squad through the Asia Cup Division B held in Thailand the place they completed solely sixth.
“They’re tall however we’ll handle in opposition to them,” he mentioned.
Position reprisal
In deference to the nationwide federation, Aquino begged off from revealing his closing roster however went on to guarantee that his outdated reliables are going to reprise their roles: cornerstones Jack Animam and Afril Bernardino together with deadeye guard and longtime captain Janine Pontejos.
Animam, who will open a brand new chapter of her professional profession in China, shall be becoming a member of the group as quickly as they arrive in Hangzhou.
Aquino mentioned that the short-term aim for the squad is to make the quarterfinals. And as quickly as Gilas does simply that, then they’ll proceed plotting.
“I believe that’s a reachable aim for now,” he mentioned. “If and once we get there, then we’ll go for an additional aim.”
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“There have been humps and bumps on the best way to Hangzhou, however the factor is, we’re happening a straight line,” he mentioned.