By REYNALD MAGALLON
Vanessa De Jesus finished what Afril Bernardino has started as Gilas Pilipinas finally barged into the win column in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup after shaking off a pesky Chinese Taipei team, 92-81, at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia on Wednesday, June 28.
It was Bernardino who set the pace for the Filipinas before De Jesus took charge in the end game to stave off a late Taiwanese fight back to help Gilas book a spot to the knockout stage.
De Jesus exploded for 25 points – including a personal six straight points inside the final two minutes that built Gilas a comfortable 12-point lead, 88-76 with 48 seconds left.
Bernardino put up an all-around effort of 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals as she also led a strong first half that allowed Gilas to establish a 13-point lead at the break.
Jack Animam who struggled in the first two games finally made her presence felt with a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Still even with the splendid performance from Gilas, the win didn’t come without a scare as the resilient Taiwanese, hoping to avoid a relegation match, battled back into the contest, cutting the lead down to just eight, 74-82.
De Jesus then took matters in her own hands, scoring off her own miss before answering the Chinese Taipei two free throws with two consecutive floaters to create the much-needed separation.
A pair of free throws from Bernardino and De Jesus then sealed the deal for the Filipinas who will face the second placed team from Group A.
Yu Ting Lin paced Chinese Taipei with 21 points while I-Hsiu Cheng and Yan En Han added 15 apiece – all of which not enough as they now need to win against Lebanon to keep its Division A spot.
