Gilas U18 girls repulse Thais

MANILA, Philippines — The Gilas Pilipinas girls kicked off their bid for Division A promotion with a 65-50 win over Thailand in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship Division B play late Monday night at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bangalore, India.

Up by just four early in the payoff period, the Nationals launched a killer 20-7 run for a 65-48 lead that sealed their first win in Group A of the Asian youth tourney serving as a qualifier for the elite Division A.

Kate Bobadilla led the way for the wards of coach Pat Aquino with 22 markers with three triples while UC San Diego-bound Sumayah Sugapong turned in nine points, eight rebounds and five steals in her Gilas debut.

Kristan Yumul, who led the U16 team’s bronze-medal finish two months ago in Jordan, added 10 while Camille Nolasco and Louna Ozar had eight each in Gilas’ 15-point victory.

Gilas has Samoa and Maldives next in group play and hopes to finish on top to gain an outright ticket to the semifinals. Otherwise, Gilas has to go through the qualifying phase first before advancing.    – John Bryan Ulanday

Only the champion of Division B will be given a ticket to the prestigious Division A that includes Australia, Japan, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, India and Indonesia.

The Philippine cagebelles, then led by Yumul before her U18 transition, missed out on Division A promotion in the U16 category after bowing in the Final Four against eventual champion Samoa.

Meanwhile, Laksamee Hewchaiyaphum was the only bright spot for Thailand with 10 markers.