SEREMBAN, Malaysia — The Gilas Pilipinas girls national basketball team endured a lopsided 102-47 defeat against titleholder Australia to open their FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup Division A tournament on Sunday, October 4, at the Karisma Arena.
The Australian Gems seized early control of the matchup, racing out to a 30-8 cushion by the end of the first quarter. The initial deficit proved insurmountable for the Filipinas, as Australia expanded their advantage to 60-20 by halftime to effectively seal the victory.
Tiffany Reyes and Zaydhen Rosano provided the offensive spark for Gilas, finishing as team co-leaders with 10 points each.
Australia showcased balanced scoring with five players scoring in double digits, anchored by Sophie Richardson’s game-high 18 points and Isabel Smith’s 17-point contribution.
Gilas Pilipinas will seek to rebound in Group A action against South Korea on Monday, October 5, before concluding the group stage opposite New Zealand on Tuesday, October 6.