SEA GAMES

Gilas Women coach Pat Aquino hopes team can sustain momentum after 60-point blowout win

PHNOM PENH — The Philippine national women's basketball team kicked off their three-peat campaign in the biennial meet in style, treating host Cambodia to a shooting party in a 114-54 win in the opening day of the women's basketball tournament of the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The lopsided win came despite the hype surrounding the Cambodian squad, which fielded four naturalized players in Meighan Simmons, a former 26th overall pick in the WNBA, Brittany Dinkins, Mariah Cooks, and Kim Hanlon.

And Gilas Pilipinas Women head coach Patrick Aquino is hoping that his wards could sustain the same amount of intensity and energy as they face a grueling schedule ahead.

"I think the coaching staff scouted well yesterday. We really stayed here until the game [of Cambodia] was over against Malaysia. Mga 5 or 6 or 7 lang rotation niya. And they got injured already," Aquino said.

"I grabbed that opportunity. As far as we're concerned, I hope we could sustain what we're doing for the next five more games kasi straight na kami, wala nang pahinga."

("I think the coaching staff scouted well yesterday. We really stayed here until the game was over against Malaysia. They only have 5 or 6 or 7 in their rotation. And they got injured already.... I grabbed that opportunity. As far as we're concerned. I hope we could sustain what we're doing for the next five more games because we're going straight, no more rest.")

It was a balanced offensive attack for the Filipina cagers with Ella Fajardo dropping 17 points off the bench while Jack Animam collected 16 markers alongside nine rebounds to mark her return to the SEAG 5-on-5 stage.

Three others were also in double digit scoring as Gilas dealt Cambodia a stinging loss in front of its home team. They will look to repeat this performance when they take on Singapore on Thursday at 3 p.m. (4 p.m. Manila time).

"That was the game plan, to have fresher legs. We tried to have fresher legs than them. I think they had a hard time in last night's game against Malaysia," Aquino said.

"It was our advantage and we just took it. It was successful. And I think even if we were pressing all the time, we still had fresher legs at the end of the game."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News