Jack Animam drops 18 and 21 in Gilas Women's close loss to Brazil in World Cup pre-qualifier

Gilas Pilipinas Women mainstay Jack Animam was a force in the paint, but her double-double outing went for naught as the Filipinas lost to Brazil, 77-74, in the FIBA World Cup Pre-qualifying tournament on Monday in Rwanda.

The 25-year-old center poured in a double-double effort of 18 points and 21 rebounds on top of four blocks, one steal, and one assist as the nationals fell to a 0-1 card in Group C.

Animam's six points and rising star Naomi Panganiban's seven kept the Philippines afloat early against the world no. 8. Brazilians, ending the first half of action trailing by just a point, 40-39.

After converting just 3-of-14 from the rainbow country as a team in the first two quarters, Gilas Women got their outside shooting going with Khate Castillo igniting for back-to-back triples to force a 49-all deadlock in the third.

But Brazil was able to head to the fourth carrying a 60-57 cushion thanks to the tandem of Emanuely De Oliveira and Leticia Soares.

Gilas then momentarily regained a 66-65 lead after Panganiban completed a three-point play, but endgame lapses cost Gilas the game.

Staring at a 74-73 deficit, Panganiban muffed a pair of charities before she and Afril Bernardino missed baskets that allowed Aline Moura to give Brazil a 75-74 lead with 20 seconds left.

Castillo had two chances to win it for Gilas, but she also went wide on her two three-pointer attempts.

Despite the loss, it was still a total team effort for the wards of head coach Patrick Aquino with Bernardino and Panganiban supplying the help with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Stefanie Berberabe and Castillo each finished with nine markers.

Gilas Women will now look to win an all-important game on Tuesday against Hungary at 11 p.m. Only the winner of the pre-qualifier will advance to the qualifying tournament proper.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News