Gilas belles face giants in FIBA Asia Cup

MANILA, Philippines — A bevy of international stars and aces including WNBA standouts from powerhouse rivals await Gilas Pilipinas women’s in the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup kicking off in Amman, Jordan Monday.

Bracketed in the loaded Group B, the Filipina ballers face giant mountains in the continental tilt none bigger than the stacked Australia squad with WNBA players Rebecca Allen and Sami Whitcomb of the New York Liberty.

The 6-foot-2 Allen registered 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds to make it to Mythical Five of the 2019 Asia Cup edition held in India, where Australia finished third behind champion Japan and runner-up China.

Also standing in Gilas’ way is 6-foot-9 Han Xu of China, who tallied an Asia Cup-best of 2.6 blocks along with 11.8 markers and 6.0 boards to join Allen in the mythical team.

Aside from Australia and China, Gilas will face Chinese Taipei in the Group B of the Asia Cup that also has Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and India in Group A.