Gilas Pilipinas Women nearly pulled off a stunning comeback but ultimately fell short against world no. 9 Japan, 85-82, in their second game at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China.
Down by 22 points with under six minutes to play, the Filipinas launched a furious 18-0 rally to close the gap to four, but a missed three-pointer and late free throws sealed their defeat.
Jack Animam led the charge with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Vanessa De Jesus and Kacey Panganiban added 13 apiece.
The loss drops the Philippines to 0-2 in Group B, making their next match against Lebanon a must-win to stay in semifinal contention.
Japan’s Maki Takada top-scored with 20 points, keeping her team tied for the group lead with Australia.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 15, 2025
