GILAS Pilipinas Women blasted host India, 92-78, on Friday to keep its place in Division 1 of the 2019 Fiba Women's Asia Cup at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bangalore.
Janine Pontejos waxed hot from deep with her 4-of-7 shooting from three-point land to lead the Philippines with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Five other players hit double-digits in scoring in the battle for seventh place.
Khate Castillo also found her range with 15 points on a 5-of-6 clip from deep, to go with three boards, while Ria Nabalan joined in the three-point party with 13 points built on her 3-of-5 clip from downtown.
It was a stupendous shooting night for the Filipinas as they've gone 13-of-29 from beyond the arc, good for 44-percent in what was easily the team's best shooting performance in the continental showpiece.
Gilas Womens used a 24-8 first quarter run to turn a 4-all deadlock into a 24-8 lead, but India fought back and got to within three, 41-38 at halftime.
Unwilling to be relegated to Division B, the Philippines extended the lead to a high of 22, 88-66, on a Kelli Hayes jumper with 3:40 left to play.
Gemma Miranda added 11 points and three rebounds, while Afril Bernardino got 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals, three blocks, and two dimes.
Hayes got the job done down low with her 11 points, two rebounds, and two rejections, while Jack Animam poured in seven points, 13 boards, two assists, and two blocks.
Shireen Vijay Limaye led India with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the losing effort.
The scores:
PHILIPPINES 92 - Pontejos 18, Castillo 15, Nabalan 13, Hayes 11, Miranda 11, Animam 7, Chan 5, Cabinbin 2, Tongco 0, Jose 0, Daez 0.
INDIA 78 - Limaye 23, Udayakumar 15, Mahesha 12, Skaria 10, Kumari 6, Geetha 5, Sonkar 4, Arvind 2, Nixon 1.
Quarters: 28-16, 41-38, 63-57, 92-78.
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