Gilas Girls continue rampage, rout Lebanon for 2-0 start in FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas Girls picked up where they left off, annihilating another opponent in an 89-63 win against Lebanon to remain undefeated in the 2024 FIBA U19 Asia Cup Division B on Tuesday in China.

18-year-old Naomi Panganiban clicked from the field to finish with a team-high 25 points on top of seven rebounds, eight assists, and four steals as the youthful squad improved to 2-0 and seized the leadership of Group B as Lebanon went 1-1.

The Julie Amos-helmed team caught fire in the fourth frame, extending a 20-point lead at the end of the third to a massive 29-point cushion late in the fourth after unleashing a 13-2 run that allowed them to take an 82-53 advantage in the final three minutes.

The Lebanese side struggled to convert and put the clamps on the Gilas Girls, who were coming off a 141-18 thrashing of Maldives just yesterday. And it was Tifanny Reyes' triple with a minute left that sealed it for the Filipinas as they cruised to yet another lopsided victory.

Reyes and Gab Ramos both tallied 12 points for the Philippines with the former also grabbing 19 rebounds while Alyssa Rodriguez chipped in nine markers.

Gilas will take on Syria on Wednesday where a win would formalize their semifinals berth. The winner of the tournament will earn promotion to the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News