By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Gilas Pilipinas women’s team is pulling out of the 3×3 basketball event in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, following the denial of the appeal for the two replacement players.
Gilas womens head coach and program director Pat Aquino confirmed the team’s withdrawal as they were left with only two players in Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco.
Aquino said that as much as they want to continue, they had no other choice but to make the decision as the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee denied the inclusion of Marga Villanueva and Cielo Pagdulagan on Monday, Sept. 25.
Villanueva and Pagdulagan are supposed to take the spots of Camille Clarin and Angel Surada in the team.
Gilas actually already made adjustments to its 3×3 lineup, not putting its best players in Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Janine Pontejos, Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Mikka Cacho due to HAGOC rule allowing only under-23 players in 3×3.
It was also a huge letdown for the Aquino and his team as the 3×3 Asiad stint was supposedly the first time for the Filipinas.
