Coach Aquino with some of her players.
PSA photo
Aquino stays optimistic
THE recent sixth-place finish by the women’s team in the recently-concluded FIBA Asia — its best ever– paints a brighter future for women’s basketball in the country.
Head coach Patrick Aquino, who has been at the helm of the program since 2015 , thinks so.
“We are more confident now that we get more support to help us attain our goals, and not just from the MVP Group that has been backing us in the past, we expect more sponsors now thatcwe have shown we can compete at the elite level and have earned the right to play in Division A,” said Aquino.
Even the presence of Duke University’s Vanessa de Jesus in their recent stint will encourage even more Fil-Ams to join the national team in the future.
“I believe they recognize the benefits of gaining international experience and being members of the national team in their future careers, Vanessa for one is eyeing the WNBA even as she has told me she will play for us as long as she is allowed,” explained Aquino.
Right now, he is looking forward to the coming Asian Games with the objective of naking it to the semis.
“We will be joining the Jones Cup in Taipei next month and we have also just received an invitation to play in Korea late August, these would be good preparation for us for the Asian Games,” added Aquino.
He cited the fact it is the first time ever the Philippines will be joining the women’s basketball event there. By Lito Cinco
