Vanessa De Jesus hopes to make it to WNBA as she joins Gilas Women

At 17, Vanessa De Jesus has only big dreams in mind. Among these was to don the Philippine colors and play for the Gilas Pilipinas Women on the international stage.

But the Filipina-American baller knows that the ultimate goal is to set foot in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) one day.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play in the WNBA and just play pro basketball because, as a little kid, you always dream of getting drafted and playing on the highest stage possible," De Jesus said at a press conference on Tuesday.

De Jesus has recently expressed her intent to join the national team for its campaign in the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, which will begin on June 26 in Sydney, Australia.

She will join a stacked Gilas Women side that already features stars like Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino, Khate Castillo, and Camille Clarin, all of whom were part of the squad that captured a silver medal at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

"This is definitely something that I've always been so passionate about, and now having this opportunity to do it with an amazing team and amazing coaching staff at this level, it's honestly a dream come true," the Duke University star added.

And while she will wear that Philippine uniform soon, De Jesus isn't losing sight of what her ultimate dream is.

She also shared that she will use all of the experiences she gained in the US NCAA Division I and the lessons from her Gilas Pilipinas stint in her bid to make it to the WNBA.

"So right now, it's just about taking these moments and growing because I know in the future, it will help me achieve the goals I want to achieve,'' De Jesus said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News