Gilas Women fall to hot-shooting Chinese Taipei B for second loss in Jones Cup

Gilas Pilipinas Women could not weather a hot-shooting rampage from host Chinese Taipei B (Chinese Taipei White) as the nationals absorbed a 94-83 loss in the 2023 William Jones Cup on Monday in Taipei, Taiwan.

Gilas dropped to 1-2 in the team standings after also falling to Chinese Taipei A (Chinese Taipei Blue) in their opening game day, while emerging victorious against Iran last Sunday. Chinese Taipei B, on the other hand, snapped its two-game losing streak to improve to 1-2.

Gilas made it rain in the first half with the veteran gunner Janine Pontejos firing three triples late in the second quarter before Chinese Taipei B ended the half enjoying a 48-41 lead courtesy of a 5-0 closing run.

The hosts then further widened the gap in the third quarter, giving the Philippines a taste of its own medicine by drilling four three-pointers with Dai Yiting and Zhang Yiwen leading the way.

Chinese Taipei B was able to establish a 13-point lead, 60-47, before stalwart Jack Animam powered a pivotal 17-8 run to trim their deficit to a single digit as they headed to the fourth period trailing by four, 64-68.

Chinese Taipei B's back-to-back triples with a minute and 46 seconds left in the fourth made it a 90-76 lead in their favor as the Philippines continued to struggle from the field in the payoff period.

Bernardino starred with 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists while Animam poured in 18 markers, nine boards, and one assist. Pontejos chipped in 11 while Monique Del Carmen and Andrea Tongco each had seven points in the loss.

Yiting led Chinese Taipei B with 19 points highlighted by five triples while Yiwen chimed in with 17 markers. As a team, Chinese Taipei B shot 14 baskets from the rainbow country while the Philippines had only nine.

Gilas will look to bounce back when they return to action on Tuesday at 3 p.m. against powerhouse South Korea, who has the most titles in the annual tournament with 12 championships.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News