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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider De Jesus, Animam banner Gilas Women in Jones Cup

De Jesus, Animam banner Gilas Women in Jones Cup

Published Jul 1, 2025 03:58 pm

At A Glance

  • Former Duke University and now Notre Dame guard Vanessa De Jesus and national team mainstay Jack Animam banner the Gilas Pilipinas women's team in the 2025 William Jones Cup set to fire off Wednesday, July 2, at the Taipei Peace Basketball Stadium in Taiwan.
Vanessa De Jesus (left) and Jack Animam (FIBA)
Vanessa De Jesus (left) and Jack Animam (FIBA)
Former Duke University and now Notre Dame guard Vanessa De Jesus and national team mainstay Jack Animam banner the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team in the 2025 William Jones Cup set to fire off Wednesday, July 2, at the Taipei Peace Basketball Stadium in Taiwan.
De Jesus, who is coming back to active duty with the national team after sustaining a knee injury in 2023, and Animam, who is fresh off a professional stint in Romania, will take on the role as team’s leaders with the women's squad missing the services of some of its veterans.
Gilas will be without Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino and Jhack Cabinbin due to their military duties.
But head coach Pat Aquino is certainly not lacking talent in his team as girls like two-time UAAP women’s basketball MVP Kacey Dela Rosa and other Gilas mainstays Ella Fajardo, Ana Castilla and Trina Guytingco also part of the team.
Also part of the crew are Sumayah Sugapong, Yvette Villanueva, Naomi Panganiban, Louna Ozar, Monique Del Carmen and Margarette Duenas.
The tournament is seen as part of Gilas’ women buildup for the upcoming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China later this month. The Filipina cagebelles are targeting a Top 6 finish in the continental tiff as it would secure them a spot to the FIBA women’s World Cup qualifying tournament next year.
In the Jones Cup, Gilas is opening its campaign against hosts, Chinese Taipei, on the opening day before taking on Thailand on Thursday.
Gilas then will take on Asian powerhouses South Korea and Japan on Friday and Saturday, respectively before closing out the tournament against Taiwan’s Universiade training team on Sunday.
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