Gilas Pilipinas Women during the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 semifinals qualifying game against South Korea. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Women’s run in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup came to a halt on Friday night after a 104-71 loss to South Korea at Shenzen Sports Center in China.
The playoff defeat dashed the Filipinos’ hopes of reaching the semifinals, where a matchup with powerhouse Australia awaits.
READ: Gilas Women advance to qualifiers, lock in Division A status
This came two days after the Gilas Women stunned Lebanon in a 73-70 nail-biter to clinch a spot in the World Cup Qualifiers and retain their footing in Fiba Asia’s Division A.
After absorbing a 30-16 deficit at the hands of the Koreans in the end of the opening period, the Filipinas were unable to mount any sort of comeback until the offing.
“They were getting some easy baskets on us and it was a bit harder for us to get baskets [of our own]. I think this is a learning stage again for us,” said Gilas coach Pat Aquino.
READ: Gilas Women show fight but fall short vs Japan at Fiba Asia Cup
Hopefully, by learning how the game’s played here in Fiba, we will get more ready and be a successful team in the future.”
Naomi Panganiban balled out once again for Gilas Women with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the defeat. Vanessa De Jesus and Kacey Dela Rosa also scattered 15 and 10 points, respectively, but to no avail.
Haeran Lee dominated on the offensive side of things for Korea with 24 points built on three triples while Yoolim Kang’s 21 markers also helped the cause in the victory that sent them to the semifinals.
The Philippines still has one more game left in the continental meet on Saturday, this time against New Zealand to determine the fifth and sixth placers of the Asia Cup.
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