TOP SCORER. Vanessa De Jesus scores 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting to lead Gilas Pilipinas beat Chinese Taipei, 92-81, in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup at the State Sports Centre in Sydney on Wednesday (June 28, 2023). The victory sent the Philippines to the quarterfinals against New Zealand. (Photo courtesy of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup)
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas secured a place in the knockout stages of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup after beating Chinese Taipei, 92-81, on Wednesday at the State Sports Centre in Sydney.
Behind yet another explosion from Vanessa De Jesus and arguably Jack Animam's best game in the 5-on-5 circuit since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Gilas gradually whipped their Taiwanese foes as they sealed a showdown against New Zealand in the quarterfinals.
The victory also means Gilas will stay in Division A for the next edition as they finally won a group stage game since the event began featuring a promotion-relegation format.
De Jesus finished with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting, two rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Afril Bernardino added 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block for Gilas.
Animam went 8-for-8 from the field for 16 points with 15 rebounds and one assist.
Lin Yu-Ting put up 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block for Chinese Taipei.
New Zealand, which holds the tiebreaker over South Korea due to its Matchday 1 win, sealed the second seed in Group B with a 76-45 rout of Lebanon.
The winner of the Gilas-New Zealand game on Friday will not just enter the semifinals but also clinch a spot in the Paris Olympic qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei and Lebanon will also face off on Friday but for survival with the losing side relegated to Division B for the next edition.
In the nightcaps, China and Japan clinched the two outright semifinal seats.
China took down South Korea, 87-81, while Japan romped host country Australia, 91-66.
With the results, Australia and South Korea lock horns in the other quarterfinal game with the winner facing Japan in the semis, while China awaits the Gilas-New Zealand winner. (PNA)
