Gilas Girls torch Lebanon to rule FIBA U18 Asia Cup tilt, earn Division A promotion

Gilas Pilipinas Girls overcame a slow start, ignited from deep in the second quarter, and never looked back since to upset Lebanon anew, 95-64, and rule the 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup Division B on Sunday in China. 

The tournament sweep and the championship allowed the Julie Amos-helmed squad to earn a top flight promotion, booking a ticket to the Division A of the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship. 

The youthful Gilas Girls flipped the switched in the second frame, torching the Lebanese side with six three-pointers with Alyssa Kae Rodriguez and Margarette Duenas burying two triples each as they erected an insurmountable 52-23 cushion, overcoming a slow first quarter that saw them struggle to convert from the field. 

It even took Gilas three minutes to score a field goal in the second quarter, but their fiery offense proved difficult to answer for Lebanon, which they defeated by 26 in their first meeting during the group stages.

A Jolzyne Impreso bucket from downtown late in the third period then sent Gilas to a 40-point advantage, 72-32, as there was hardly a fightback from Lebanon except for a strong run to end the frame. Gilas' lead was too hard to overcome as they marched to the victory. 

Rodriguez emerged as the top scorer with 22 points while Alicia Margarett Villanueva provided the help with 15 markers. Naomi Panganiban chipped in 13 points as team captain Ava Fajardo and Sophia Canindo each churned out 10. 

The tournament saw a dominant run from the young Filipina ballers, inflicting a 123-beating to Maldives, 141-18, before eking out an 89-63 win against Lebanon. They were able to sweep the elimination round after Syria forfeited the game, going undefeated at 3-0. 

They went on crushing Samoa in the semifinals after unleashing a strong second half en route to a 71-47 win and a ticket to the finals. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News