Asian Games 2023: Gilas Women fall to mighty Japan ahead of QF stage

Gilas Pilipinas Women could not recover from a first quarter letdown to absorb a 96-59 thrashing at the hands of powerhouse Japan in the conclusion of the group stage of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday in Hangzhou, China.

The Filipinas will close out the eliminations with a 2-1 card, enough to clinch a quarterfinals berth, while world no. 9 Japan will enter the next stage unscathed with a 3-0 slate.

The wards of head coach Patrick Aquino found themselves deep in a 35-14 hole at the end of the opening quarter before they matched the Japanese's intensity in the next two frames with Janine Pontejos and Chack Cabinbin leading the way in offense.

Japan never looked back since then, punishing the Filipinas in the fourth quarter with the likes of Aika Hirashita and Saki Hayashi providing the spark.

Pontejos paced the Philippines with 13 points to emerge as the lone Gilas player to reach double digit mark while Jack Animam finished with nine markers and seven rebounds.

Hirashita tallied a game-high 26 points and four rebounds while Hayashi put together 17 markers.

Despite the loss, the Philippines still secured a spot in the quarterfinal stage due to its overall ranking.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News