By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas Women overcame a flat start to score an 84-68 victory over Samoa in the battle-for-third place of the 2022 FIBA U-18 Women’s Asian Championship Division B on Sunday at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru.
Staring at a 31-41 deficit at the half, the national women’s basketball team leaned on a massive 22-4 scoring blast spearheaded by Sumayah Sugapong to take a 53-45 lead after a Camille Nolasco layup.
Gilas Pilipinas Women’s assault continued in the fourth period with Sugapong, Louna Ozar and Kristan Yumul also contributing on offense as the lead reached its largest at 16 points.
Sugapong, who was committed to play for UC San Diego, poured 27 points, with 11 coming in the third quarter, to go with nine steals, six rebounds, and two assists to secure the Philippines the bronze medal.
Ozar chipped in 15 markers, including three outside conversions, on top of her six boards and four steals, while Yumul also drilled four treys to end up with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Ashley Loon also scored double-digits with 11 points, and naturalized player Kate Bobadilla had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals for Gilas Pilipinas Women.
It was a statement game for the Gilas, who were down by as much as 14 points in the opening half before turning things around in the second half with its defense to force Samoa to 39 turnovers at the end of the contest.
The bronze medal victory was sort of consolation for the national women’s basketball team after they fell short of reaching the championship round following a stinging 66-65 loss to Malaysia in the semifinals round.
The semifinals defeat, however, was huge for the Philippine women’s team as it prevented them from earning a promotion to tie Division A of the FIBA U-18 Women’s Asian Championship.
Malia Jae Ruud paced Samoa with double-double 30 points and 13 rebounds to go with three assists, while Kira-May Filemu and Leiana-Nila Talase Leiataatimu chipped in 13 and 10 markers, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 84 – Sugapong 27, Ozar 15, Yumul 14, Loon 11, Bobadilla 10, Nolasco 7, Heyn 0, Calvert 0, Udal 0, Villarin 0.
SAMOA 68 – Ruud 30, Filemu 13, Leiataatimu 10, Tauiliili 6, A. Manumaleuga 5, Finau-Stephano 2, Brown 2, Foa’i-Auimatagi 0.
Quarterscores: 13-17; 31-41; 59-49; 84-68.
