FOR the second straight year, the Gilas Women's team is bound for the semifinals of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.
And for the second straight year too, the Philippines did it at the expense of powerhouse Mongolia.
Deja vu for Gilas Women
The Filipinas booted out the Mongolians in a low-scoring game, 15-12, in their knockout quarterfinals match at the OCBC Arena in Singapore on Easter Sunday.
Gilas will meet Japan in the semifinals later in the day.
The Japanese booted out Thailand, 15-13, in their own quarterfinals matchup.
Last year, Gilas played minus an injured Camille Clarin but still proceeded to beat Mongolia, also in the quarterfinals, 19-15.
Mikka Cacho was the only member of the squad to return for Gilas this season.
Kacey dela Rosa took charge for Gilas with six points and six rebounds, while Afril Bernardino and Cacho had four each for the fifth-seeded team which never relinquished the lead after scoring four straight to make it a 7-5 contest.
Still the Filipinas had to survive a final stand by the second-seeded Mongolians, who came to within 13-12 in the final 28 seconds of the tight match.
But Dela Rosa scored inside and Bernardino drove to the basket to clinch the win for Gilas.
The scores
Philippines (15) - Dela Rosa 6, Bernardino 4, Cacho 4, Apag 1.
Mongolia (12) - Onolbaatar 5, Bat-Erdene 5, Nyamjav 1, Erdenebayan 1.
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