Gilas Women head coach Patrick Aquino submits to POC his 18-person SEA Games pool

The Philippine national women's basketball team will likely retain its core for the Vietnam SEA Games as head coach Patrick Aquino has submitted to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) his 18-person pool from which the final lineup for the biennial meet will be selected from.

Aquino revealed to GMA News Online that Gilas Pilipinas Women holdovers in Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Khate Castillo, Clare Castro, Chack Cabinbin, Andrea Tongco, Kristine Cayabyab, Camille Clarin, Karl Ann Pingol, and Ella Fajardo made it to the pool.

They were previously part of the national team lineup that saw action in the 2021 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, where they avoided Division B relegation after escaping India last October.

Also called up were Filipino-Americans Stephanie Berberabe, Malia Bambrick, and Mai-Loni Henson, all of whom have attended national team tryouts in the United States last June 2021 set up by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Fil-Am Nation Select, as well as Gabi Bade, a Fil-Am guard seeing action in Cyprus.

Rounding up the pool are National University standouts Monique del Carmen, Angel Surada, and Gemma Miranda as well as former Ateneo star Katrina Guytingco.

Noticeably absent, meanwhile, is 6-foot-5 center and national team mainstay Jack Animam, who is still  is still in recovery following her knee surgery in the US.

Aquino noted that this lineup may still change as they move forward but said these lady cagers will most likely compose the roster for SEA Games, where they are eyeing to defend two titles.

"Same pa rin [but] not final yet. We can still change it," said Aquino.

—JMB, GMA News