GILAS Pilipinas Women capped its FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament with a 79-75 triumph over Senegal on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Vanessa De Jesus, Sophia Dignadice, and Kacey Dela Rosa chipped in 16 points each to end the competition on a high with a 1-2 record in Group B.
The win was also the first for BT Toews as Gilas Women head coach.
The Philippines started its campaign with a 61-58 loss to host Mexico in a game where they squandered a 15-point lead. It then lost to world No. 7 Canada, 85-38.
But the Filipinas were determined to pick up a win before closing its campaign, doing so by nailing 12 three-pointers, eight of which coming from the trio of De Jesus, Dignadice, and Dela Rosa.
Gilas Women closed the third on a 15-0 run, with De Jesus knocking down a triple and Dignadice hitting a layup to end the quarter with a 61-50 lead.
De Jesus and Dela Rosa then converted on treys after the Senegalese came within two points on two separate occasions at 69-67 and 73-71.
De Jesus went 4-of-6 from threes while also chipping in eight assists and two steals, while Dignadice made two of her six threes aside from dishing out four assists. Dela Rosa hit two of her five triples.
Jhazmin Joson also chipped in to the Philippines’ outside shooting by knocking down 3-of-7 from rainbow country.
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