Gilas Women's Vanessa de Jesus likely to miss Jones Cup, Asian Games with knee injury

Gilas Pilipinas Women's rising star Vanessa de Jesus has sustained a knee injury and is likely to miss the country's campaign in two major upcoming tournaments.

Duke University, De Jesus' collegiate team, was the first to announce the development, saying the playmaker will sit out the US NCAA 2023-2024 season.

 

 

 

 

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Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino later confirmed the news to GMA Integrated News and said that they expect De Jesus to miss the national team's campaigns in both the William Jones Cup and the Asian Games.

"I think it just happened this week. Well, right now I just hope and wish her the best to recovery and get stronger after," Aquino said in a message.

"I was still hoping for her join us in the Asian Games and having to have a go-signal from her coach at Duke. But then again the unfortunate happened."

Aquino admitted that De Jesus' looming absence will be a huge loss for the program, especially with her being one of the top performers in their recent stint in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup last month.

During that tourney, the 21-year-old gunner posted 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks as the Filipinas finished in sixth place.

Gilas is tipped to compete in the Jones Cup from August 5 to 9 in Taiwan while the 2023 Asian Games is set this September in China.

"I know she is strong and will get back stronger. It’s big not to have her but now we want her to be well first," Aquino added.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News