Gilas U-16 girls annihilate Maldives by 122 points in FIBA Asian Championship

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Total domination. Flawless execution.

After a convincing 79-40 victory over the Hong Kong national team during their debut game in the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championships, the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team showed they got enough gas left in the tank, obliterating Maldives by 122 points, 144-22, last July 11, 2023, held at the Prince Hamzah Sport Hall in Amman, Jordan.

The young Gilas girls won all four quarters offensively and defensively and achieved all that they wanted against Maldives.

Aside from their waxing hot scoring performance, the Filipinas also notched their best defensive output of the tournament so far after tallying 47 total steals.

Their defensive tenacity and great anticipation of the passing lanes sparked their momentum-clinching offensive avalanche in the game which helped them stay undefeated in the Division B of the FBA Asian Championships.

Sophia Canindo led the Gilas onslaught after finishing the one-sided victory with a double-double performance of 21 points and 12 steals.

Aside from her scoring and defensive highlights, the young Filipina cager also recorded six assists and four rebounds.

It was a tremendous balanced scoring attack for Gilas as nine other players also ended the game with double-digit scoring outings.

Christina Lapasaran and Nevaeh Smith backstopped Canindo with 16 points apiece while Ava Fajardo, the best player against Hong Kong, put up an all-around performance of 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

Other players who were able to reach the double-digit scoring mark are Ryan Kelly Nair, Kimmy Sayson, Isabella de Jesus, Ariel Star de la O, and Scarlett Mercado.