Pontejos, Castillo rain threes as Gilas Women start Asian Games with Kazakhstan rout

Janine Pontejos (165-G-1992) and Khate Castillo (162-SG-1996) shot the lights out from deep as Gilas Women marked their Asian Games debut with a resounding 83-59 romp of Kazakhstan in Hangzhou, China on Wednesday, September 27. The two veteran sharpshooters combined for 12 three-pointers on a sizzling 52% clip to lead the Filipinas to a promising start in Group B. Pontejos chalked up a game-high 21 points on a 7-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc, while Castillo drained 5 of her 10 three-point attempts to finish with 15 points. The rest of the squad also shone, with the likes of Chack Cabinbin and Stefanie Berberabe (160-G-2000, college: Westmont) keying the Philippines’ second-quarter breakaway. Kazakhstan trailed by just a whisker midway through the second period, 26-27, before the Filipinas ended the frame with a 13-0 blast powered by 5 points from Cabinbin and 4 points from Berberabe. Gilas Women saw their lead swell to as big as 28 points, 79-51, off a Pontejos long bomb with 2:45 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Jack-Danielle Animam (192-C/F-1998) put up 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Afril Bernardino (165-G-1991) posted 11 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the rout. Berberabe added 8 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals, Cabinbin had 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Andrea Tongco tallied 6 steals in a stellar defensive effort that saw the Filipinas force the Kazakhs to 23 turnovers. Tamara Kuzmina-Yagodkina (182-F-1990) and Anna Bezgodova (192-C-1992) scored 12 points apiece to pace Kazakhstan. Up next for Gilas Women is Hong Kong on Friday, September 29, at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Courtesy of: rappler.com