Kelli Hayes banners Philippines belles in Asia Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Debuting Fil-Am forward Kelli Hayes headlines the Gilas Pilipinas women roster set to carry the country’s colors in the 2019 FIBA Asia Women’s Cup Division A slated Sept. 24-29 in Bengaluru, India.

Bea Daez, Ria Nabalan, Katrina Castillo and Eunique Chan are other new faces joining veterans Afril Bernardino, Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, Gemma Miranda, France Mae Cabinbin, Danica Jose and Marizze Andrea Tongco in the Asian tourney that also serves as the team’s buildup for the SEA Games the country is hosting in December.

But all eyes will be on the highly touted Hayes who played four years for UCLA in the US NCAA, registering averages of 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds as a regular starter in her senior year before moving over to the Phl collegiate league.

The 23-year-old Hayes, now on her lone playing year for NU in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament, has reinforced the Pat Aquino-mentored Phl belles earlier this year in the 2019 Women’s Jones Cup in Taiwan.

The goal for the Phl belles in India is to keep their Division A status in FIBA Asia play.

But the Nationals will be in for a tough task as they are bracketed with heavyweights China, New Zealand and Australia. Group B has South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan and India.

The FIBA Asia Womens’ Cup, which is also a pre-qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Qualifying Tournament, calls for a format that pits the last place finishers from both groups in a crucial battle for the right to stay in Division A. The loser will be relegated to Division B.