Afril Bernardino, Jack Animam, and Vanessa de Jesus show the way as Gilas Women notch their highest FIBA Women's Asia Cup finish in nearly four decades.
) – two games where Gilas Women had their fair chances to win – sent a statement loud enough for the rest of the basketball world to hear: the Philippines not only belongs among the upper echelon in Asia, but it is also closing in on world-caliber teams.
Bernardino tied with Lebanon’s best player Rebecca Akl as the eighth-best scorer of the Asia Cup with an average of 13 points. Bernardino was Gilas Women’s best scorer. Bernardino ranked sixth in rebounding with 7.7 boards, the only player in the top 10 who stands below six feet. She also finished seventh in blocks with 1 per game despite being the shortest in the top 10 and second in steals with a 2.2 average. Bernardino ranked sixth in efficiency in the entire tournament.The Asia Cup saw the resurgence of Animam, who proved she is close to getting back to the pre-injury level of play she displayed when she was a dominant force as an import in Serbia in 2021.
Animam was Gilas Women’s rim protector and last line of defense, and this was evident in her registering 0.9 blocks and 1.4 steals, ranking ninth overall in both statistical categories. The Bulacan native also delivered offensively, leading the entire competition in two-point field goal accuracy with 65.7% en route to averaging 10 points.The entry of De Jesus proved to be the main difference-maker for the Philippines.
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