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Military duties stall Gilas Pilipinas Women’s final roster plans
With two major tournaments fast approaching, the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team found itself in uncertainty as three veteran players are still committed to their duties with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP.)
With Janine Pontejos and Chack Cabinbin serving in the Philippine Army, while Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) MVP Afril Bernardino in the Philippine Navy, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is now working to obtain the necessary AFP clearances for the trio to compete in the Jones Cup and FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in July.
The SBP insists it is closely monitoring the situation, but uncertainty lingers as the clearance process for the players remains stalled.
Still, Gilas Pilipinas Women’s head coach Pat Aquino says the team is ready to adapt to whatever happens, noting that for now, they are maintaining the status quo with Pontejos, Cabinbin, and Bernardino.
(L-R) JANINE PONTECOJS, AFRIL BERNARDINO, AND CHACK CABINBIN
“Well, SBP is really coordinating now with AFP and the Department of National Defense about the situation. So it’s about how the situation is going on and hopefully, you know, everything will push through with that. If not, we’re still preparing for that and things… It doesn’t change anything. We’ll have to prepare for it and hopefully, we’ll give out the best," Aquino said during the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup trophy tour press conference in Pasay.
“Everybody’s optimistic. We’ve practiced every day together and sana everybody’s close, you know, and that’s the main objective. Sabi nga ni ED kanina, we’re fixing it out, hopefully it pushes through that’s it.”
While the possible absence of core members poses a challenge, Aquino sees it as an opportunity for the younger Gilas to rise and step up to the occasion. Rising stars from the youth program, Sumayah Sugapong and Naomi Panganiban, are part of the 20-woman pool and could step in if the situation calls for it.
Thankfully, the Gilas squad still have a wide pool of options as they shape their final rosters for the two tournaments.
The Jones Cup is set to tip off in Taiwan on July 2, followed by the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup from July 13 to 20 in Shenzhen, China.
