Gilas Pilipinas women absorbed a heartbreaker against the world’s eighth-best women’s hoops team.
This, after the Filipina dribblers absorbed a 77-74 heartbreaker against Brazil during their 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifiers group stage clash on Monday evening, August 19 (Philippine time) in Rwanda.
Leading the charge for Gilas is Jack Animam, who had a monster 18-point, 21-rebound game on top of four blocks, an assist and a steal despite dealing with four fouls in over 31 minutes of gameplay.
Also standing out for the Patrick Aquino-coached team were Afril Bernardino, who had 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, and young ace Naomi Panganiban’s 13 markers, five boards and four dimes.
Trailing by one with nine ticks left in the game, Khate Castillo went for a triple as she tried to steal the win from Brazil, but her shot didn’t go and in turn allowed their counterparts to hold on to their one-point lead, 75-74.
Caca Martins was then fouled by Panganiban as the nationals looked to extend the game, and the former successfully aced her trip to the line to give Brazil a three-point cushion.
Castillo went for another triple as she looked to send the game to overtime, but her attempt missed the bottom of the net yet again.
Prior to this, down by a possession with two minutes left in the contest, Stefanie Berberabe delivered a crucial basket to tie the game at 73 at the 1:52 mark.
Leticia Soares then went on to split her charities in their next possession after she was fouled by Panganiban, and this gave the Brazilians a one-point lead.
Panganiban was then fouled on her attempt but, unfortunately, for Gilas, the young star missed both of her tries at the 15-foot line.
Bernardino then grabbed the offensive board off the second free throw miss of her teammate, but she only went one-of-two and failed to overtake Brazil.
Both squads weren’t able to sink baskets in the following possessions, but Aline Mura successfully broke the deadlock after she also went 50 percent from the line after being fouled by Bernardino.
Meanwhile, the Brazilians were powered by Soares’ 15 markers, five rebounds and a dime, Emanuely de Oliveira, who posted 13, and Maria Albiero and Martins, who scored 12 and 11, respectively. (ABS-CBN News)