The women of Gilas Pilipinas brought a monsoon to Guadalajara, raining 3-pointers and shooting a torrential 70 percent from two-point range to beat Senegal, 79-75, and close their FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-qualifying tournament campaign with a victory.
With both teams already out of contention but still hungry for a win, the opening quarter was a basketball stalemate, with neither side willing to give an inch. Gilas and Senegal traded baskets almost point for point before settling into an 18-18 deadlock.
Then the Philippine offense found its rhythm, and the scoreboard suddenly looked less like a tug-of-war and more like a downpour.
Gilas poured in 43 points across the second and third quarters, outscoring Senegal by 11 and building enough breathing room to withstand a furious fourth-quarter rally. But getting that cushion was hardly routine.
Animam and dela Rosa were already in foul trouble by the third quarter, each carrying four fouls and forcing head coach Burke “BT” Toews, the former Canadian mentor who took the Gilas reins in May, to go small.
With five minutes left in the third and Gilas clinging to a precarious 46-45 lead, Sophia Dignadice and Vanessa de Jesus took matters into their own hands. The pair sparked a 15-5 Gilas blitz that stretched the lead to 61-50 at the start of the fourth, giving the Filipinas the breathing room they needed.
Senegal, however, refused to leave quietly. It erupted for 25 points in the final quarter, turning the closing minutes into a test of nerve. Gilas held firm.
De Jesus, Dignadice, and Kaycee dela Rosa each scored 16 points, while Animam added 14 as four Filipinas finished in double figures.
Gilas shot 56 percent from the field, making 18 of 25 attempts inside the arc for an impeccable 70 percent clip. It also knocked down 12 of 29 from beyond the arc.
Senegal was led by Cierra Dillard, who led all scorers with 25 points. The former WNBA draftee kept the pressure on, but Gilas had enough answers.
Senegal won the rebounding battle, 43-24, while both teams committed 17 turnovers. Gilas also collected seven steals.
The Philippines may have missed the next stage, but it left Guadalajara with something to savor. The Olympic dream ended, but the campaign did not end empty-handed.
