FILE – Gilas Girls middle Jack Animam.–FIBA PHOTO

HANGZHOU, China – Historical past beckons for the Gilas Pilipinas Girls after they make their long-awaited debut within the Asian Video games on Wednesday.

Seeking to give Gilas Girls a impolite welcome on the continental stage is Kazakhstan, a perennial contender that made the quarterfinal within the final two stagings, of their 5:30 p.m. conflict at SX Olympic Stadium.

Gilas coach Pat Aquino confused the necessity for the gamers to maintain their concentrate on the duty at hand and never let their feelings get the higher of them.

“The women are excited and prepared for his or her first Asian Video games,” mentioned Aquino, the architect behind the success of the ladies’s crew being promoted in Division A of the Fiba Asia Cup and profitable the Southeast Asian Video games gold in back-to-back style.

“However we’ve to remain centered mentally and bodily.”

Gilas Pilipinas Girls coach Pat Aquino.–FIBA PHOTO

Veterans Jack Animam and Afril Bernardino will once more stand on the forefront in main the marketing campaign of the crew.

The remainder of the first-ever Philippine girls’s crew within the Asiad are Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, Louna Ozar, Khate Castillo, Katrina Guytingco, Stefanie Berberabe, Mikka Cacho, Monique Del Carmen, Andra Tongco, and Camille Nolasco.

The Philippines is in Group B with Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and two-time Asiad gold medalist Japan.

Towards the taller Kazakhs, Aquino mentioned the crew should depend on its quickness and outdoors capturing.

“We have now to have a robust begin and management the tempo of the sport. They’re taller than us, so we’ve to reap the benefits of our velocity and grit,” added Aquino.