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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Pat Aquino confident young guns can fill void should Gilas misses vets

Pat Aquino confident young guns can fill void should Gilas misses vets

Published Jun 18, 2025 12:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Gilas Pilipinas women's team head coach Pat Aquino is confident that the rest of the national squad would be able to fill the void should veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Andrea Tongco and Chuck Cabibin be not available for their upcoming tournaments due to their military duties.
Gilas Women take a photo with the FIBA Asia Cup trophy (SBP photo)
Gilas Women take a photo with the FIBA Asia Cup trophy (SBP photo)
Gilas Pilipinas women's team head coach Pat Aquino is confident that the rest of the national squad would be able to fill the void should veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Andrea Tongco and Chuck Cabibin be not available for their upcoming tournaments due to their military duties.
Although the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is still in communication with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Nationals are preparing for the possibility of going to Shenzhen, China without the four.
Pontejos and Cabinbin are enlisted members of the Philippine Army while Tongco and Bernardino are with the Philippine Navy and they need to get the respective clearances to join the national team for the international tournaments.
“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, said Aquino.
“If not, we’re still preparing for that. It doesn’t change anything. We’ll have to prepare for it and hopefully, we’ll give out the best, added the veteran coach.
In the event that the trio would not be able to join the team, Aquino is expecting the rest of the girls to make the most of the opportunity and step up.
“Very big, very big (opportunity for them). Especially again, I couldn’t be prouder of the program that we’re doing right now, the transition from the youth program going to the senior program, that’s a big big plus for everybody, said Aquino as the national team welcomed players from the youth program to try and fill in the shoes of the veterans.
“Going to (players) who know the program already, know the system already and have to play internationally already, that’s a big plus,” he added.
Bernardino, for her part, is confident that the rest of the team can pick up the slack in the event that they would not be available.
“I believe in them na makakaya nila, magagawa nila nang maayos ‘yung plays namin, kung ano yung pina-practice namin so I’m excited to see them play,” said Bernardino.
Without the three veterans, Gilas will be banking on the leadership of its mainstays in the likes of Ella Fajardo and Jack Animam as well as the returning former Duke player Vanessa De Jesus along with up-and-coming players in Naomi Panganiban.
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