Gilas Women crash out vs Korea in Asian Games 2023 QFs

Gilas Pilipinas Women got a big double-double performance from Jack Animam, but that was not enough to lift them as they fell to South Korea, 93-71, to bow out of contention in the 19th Asian Games on Monday night in Hangzhou, China.

Animam dropped 15 points and 14 rebounds alongside three assists, two steals, and one block while Khate Castillo poured in a game-high 18 markers laced with two boards and two dimes.

After trailing by 22 to open the third period, the Philippines unleashed an 11-0 run that saw the Gilas Women trim their deficit to just 12, 54-43, with Animam and other veterans Chack Cabinbin and Afril Bernardino leading the way.

Despite the rally from the Filipinas, the Koreans still headed to the payoff period holding on to a 70-55 cushion as Kang Leeseul and Park Jihyun continued to hit from downtown.

Bernardino was able to slice the gap to 13 after knocking down two free throws, 76-63, but a 9-0 counter from Korea sent them to another 20-plus lead at 86-63 with still 3:35 remaining in the game.

Kang paced Korea with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the three-point area while Park Jisu and Park Jihyun chipped in 15 and 14 markers apiece to help Korea advance to the next round.

Korea, a four-time gold medalist in Asian Games women's basketball, will face Japan in the semifinals while North Korea and China will slug it out in the other bracket.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News