The Gilas Women shot blanks from beyond the arc and got waylaid by Samoa, 88-73, in the Division B semifinals of the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Women’s Asian Championship on Wednesday evening at the Prince Hamza Hall in Amman.
The loss dashed the Gilas Women’s hopes of competing against the best of the best in Division A. They will take on Lebanon next for the bronze medal.
The Filipina ballers were riding a three-game winning streak heading to the semifinals, including a dominant 94-65 win over Samoa in the group stage matches last Sunday. However, they suddenly struggled to make shots and faced a 48-25 deficit in the first half, a lead that eventually ballooned to 27, 59-32.
The Gilas Women tried to make a game out of it and came within 13 in the fourth, 74-61. But that proved to be all she wrote as Samoa had an answer for every Philippine rally.
Naomi Panganiban led the Philippines with 15 points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Kristan Yumul—who was averaging 22 points in the tournament before the semis—was held down to just 13 markers. She missed all but three of her 15 three-point attempts.
Ava Fajardo added 14 points, four rebounds, two dimes, and two steals.
All in all, the Gilas Women made just nine of their 41 attempts from the three-point area.
Kira-May Filemu was phenomenal against the Philippines, as she produced 36 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists.
Azaleeah Oloapu contributed 18 points, 19 boards, and seven assists, while Sienna Tutani added a triple-double of 11 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 dimes.
Gilas Women gets picked apart by Samoa in FIBA Under-16 Women’s Asian Championship semis
