MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas U-18 girls basketball team ruled the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2023-Division B after a 95-64 rout of Lebanon in the finals on Sunday afternoon at the Futian Sports Park in China.
Alyssa Kae Rodriguez stepped up offensively with 22 points, including six three-point conversions, while Alicia Margarett Villanueva had 15 points for the Julie Amos-led Philippine squad.
Naomi Panginiban tallied 13 points, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds, while Bacolodnon team captain Ava Fajardo and Sophia Canindo each scored 10 markers in the win.
With this outcome, the Gilas Pilipinas Girls will now compete among Asia’s finest in Division A in the 2026 edition.
Gilas Pilipinas U-18 were so dominant in the championship game as they drilled 15 of their 39 three-point attempts, while also forcing their opponent to 31 turnovers the entire match.
With the score tied at 20-all, Lebanon momentarily took the lead after a three-pointer by Reem El Ghali, but Gilas Pilipinas U-18 responded with 17 unanswered points behind Rodriguez, Fajardo, and Villanueva en route to a 53-26 halftime lead.
Gilas Pilipinas U-18 continued their run in the third quarter as they established a massive 72-32 advantage following a three-pointer by Jolzyne Impresso with over five minutes in the quarter.
Panginiban’s hot hands from beyond the arc continued in the fourth quarter as her three-point connections gave Gilas Pilipinas U-18 an 89-48 advantage with under five minutes in the match.
El Ghali top-scored for Lebanon with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists but committed seven turnovers, while Maygen Naassan chipped in 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four blocks but with six turnovers.
Gilas Pilipinas Girls reached the championship game after a 71-47 crushing of Samoa in the semifinals on Saturday, behind 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals by Fajardo./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHILIPPINES 95 – Rodriguez 22, Villanueva 15, Panganiban 13, Canindo 10, Fajardo 10, Duenas 8, Impreso 7, Lapasaran 5, Reyes 3, Ramos 2, Abong 0, Quinte 0.
LEBANON 64 – El Ghali 31, Naassan 19, Hoteit 8, Barakat M. 2, Ajami 2, Al Nakib 1, Jaoude 1, Mosleh 0, Barakat N. 0, Bado 0, Faraj 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 53-26, 80-46, 95-64.
