Gilas Women's Pontejos, Clarin bask in rare encounter with Sabrina Ionescu

Gilas Pilipinas Women stalwarts Janine Pontejos and Camille Clarin were among the lucky ones to play and compete against Sabrina Ionescu in her busy three-day Manila visit and the national team members made the most out of the rare experience. 

Pontejos came full circle, reuniting again with Ionescu since their stint at the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup Individual Contest at the Philippine Arena. 

Back then, Pontejos reigned supreme in the shoot-out contest to bag the country's first-ever gold medal in the 3x3 world Cup scene. Ionescu, then still a collegiate standout for Oregon, took part in the skills contest and fell short of a podium finish. 

Seven years later, Pontejos and Ionescu met again on Philippine soil as both players went at it in a three-point contest as part of the latter's Manila tour at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The 32-year-old Pontejos, of course, made sure to impress the New York Liberty guard by scoring the same output as her with 16 points as fellow Gilas Women sniper Khate Castillo ruled the contest. 

"Sobrang excited ako kasi before hindi pa siya gano’ng kilala that time pero ngayon natuwa ako kasi nakalaban ko pala siya before," Pontejos shared to members of Philippine media. 

"Malaking factor talaga ‘yung pagbisita niya dito. Nakita natin na pati ‘yung mga batang maliliit  at mga lalaki din ay sumusuporta sa kanya so maling impact ‘yung pagdating niya dito. And para sa amin, nakaka-inspire na sana makarating din kami sa narating niya."

Pontejos, who has brought her act to the coaching circle as well, stressed Ionescu's Manila visit has a big impact on their common goal of helping the women's basketball community further grow. 

"Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na na-invite pa ako dito kasi ayun nga, before wala talagang mga ganito so malaking bagay ‘yung ginawa ng event na ‘to para sa mga batang babae and also mga upcoming aspiring athletes na gusto maglaro sa future," the longtime Gilas shooter said. 

Clarin echoed her Gilas senior, sharing having Ionescu in a country where women's basketball is sometimes viewed as an inferior discipline that the men's side is a big step towards the dream. 

"To see is to believe, especially in the Philippines where women’s basketball isn’t as glorified as the men’s," the former National University star said. 

"So I think for Sabrina to be here, I think it’s great to show that they’re really taking the women’s game seriously now and for them to put a face to the game is a great experience for the young girls to see."

Clarin was also speechless after being in the same space as Ionescu, having participated in a Panel Talk last Monday with her and played together in the Craft The Future showcase on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"It was amazing to be in the same space as her and to just hear her thoughts. There’s no words to talk about how great that feeling was," Clarin added.

"Like she said, those losses, they’re part of the game and I think detaching yourself from the outcome and just enjoying the process, becoming a better player, loving the game—that’s what I took away from the conversation the most."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News