Growth has been the biggest plus for Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 as the girls grit their teeth in the Fiba 3×3 Women’s Series.
And it’s really these positives that coach Anton Altamirano is clinging on to, with the team testing their skills against some of the best halfcourt players in the world.
“Every game, you could see us getting better both as a team and individually kaya talagang nakaka-excite to see the girls compete dito sa Women’s Series,” he said.
Gilas Women 3×3 had its best finish of the season when it ended up fifth in Wuhan in late June before landing at seventh in Langfang this past weekend.
Yet you could see how far national 3×3 team staples have settled down in this new arena, particularly top-ranked Kaye Pingol, now world no. 111 in the women’s category, and no. 2 Angel Surada, who’s no. 113 in the world.
“They have improved in terms of expressing their game more, and Kaye particularly has taken a bigger role in leading the team,” said Altamirano.
Camille Clarin’s solid play in Langfang is also a welcome sight for Gilas, proving that she can compete in this stage as well.
With three more stops in its schedule, Altamirano said that Gilas Women 3×3 is looking to maximize on the experience they’re getting in the Women’s Series thanks to the partnership between Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Uratex Dream.
Up next is a pair of stops in Azerbaijan with Guba set from July 20 to 21 and Baku from August 17 to 18, before going to Debrecen in Hungary from August 24 to 25. Gilas Women is currently ranked 17th in the standings and will have to make it to the top 12 if it wants to qualify for the Women’s Series Final in Hangzhou come September 7 and 8.
“Our goal is to play each stop and finish as best as we can,” said Altamirano. “We now know that the Women’s Series is indeed a woman’s game and not a girls’ game, so we have to grow up fast and bring our best against the best in the world.”
