By MARK REY MONTEJO
Naomi Panganiban and Gabby Ramos are set to join Gilas Pilipinas women’s team in its bid in the 2024 William Jones Cup that fires off on Saturday, July 6 at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei, Taiwan.
Fresh off the Gilas Girls stellar run that saw them top the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division B to earn a long coveted promotion, the two are set to join the senior’s team headed by coach Patrick Aquino in the five-day cagefest that also serves as the Nationals’ buildup for the World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda next month.
“We’ve been training already since before pa, may darating na mga Fil-Ams today, sila Kristan Yumul, Kate Bobadilla. We’re trying to build young ones na parang i-ready natin sa Division A,” said Aquino who was joined by the Gilas Girls team along with head coach Julie Amos in the Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and ArenaPLus, the Philippines’ 24/7 sports app
“We’ve been practicing for almost 2 or 3 months and we know with this program dire-diretso kami,” added Aquino as he hopes to be competitive in the Jones Cup where some national teams from Asia are also set to see action
“We have to compete. That’s main objective is to compete talaga and to the level na manalo naman tayo, di gaya dati na puro laging talo,” stressed Aquino.
The veteran mentor also added that Ramos and Panganiban along with Bobadilla and Yumul,who previously also played for the Gilas youth teams, will also be part of the pool where the Final 12 for the Rwanda tilt will be chosen.
“It’s trial for two youngsters, and mga former youth program and ‘yong mga senior, they have to compete with each other to be in the final roster for Rwanda,” he continued.
