Gilas Women finish sixth overall in FIBA Asia Cup

The Philippine national women's basketball team settled for sixth place in the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, their best finish joining Division A in 2015, after falling to South Korea, 80-71, in the classification match on Saturday in Sydney.

The Koreans were leading by 11, 66-55, at the opening of the fourth period before Gilas Pilipinas Women cut their deficit to just five, 76-71, with around three minutes left. However, the nationals were held scoreless in the dying minutes of the game, which eventually resulted in the loss.

Afril Bernardino led Gilas Women with 16 points while Jack Animam and Khate Castillo chipped in 12 points apiece. Vanessa de Jesus was limited to five points.

Meanwhile, Jihyun Park had 24 points for the Koreans.

The Philippines absorbed losses against Australia and Japan in their first two matches before getting a breakthrough win against Chinese Taipei. New Zealand escaped the Philippines, 83-78, in the semis qualification before Gilas wrapped up its campaign against Korea.

The Philippines finished seventh overall in the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 editions of the Women's Asia Cup.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News