New Gilas recruit adjusting nicely

Filipino-French player Louna Ozar, the newest member of the Gilas Pilipinas Women's team, is ready to take his game to the next level and help the Pinay cagebelles in the coming FIBA Women's Asia Cup set from 26 June to 2 July at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.

"I know it's going to be harder, more physical," said Ozar, an incoming freshman who will play for the University of the Philippines in Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

"I'm joining a team that is more experienced, so I need to improve more," she added.

Ozar represented the Gilas women's team in the FIBA Asia U18 championship last year in India, but she will shore up the Filipinas team that is coming off a silver medal finish in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

She and fellow newcomer Jhazmine Joson from Ateneo de Manila University were the latest additions in the Gilas women's squad while naturalized player, Vanessa de Jesus from Duke University, will join the team in Sydney days before the start of the competition.

'I know it's going to be harder, more physical.'

A shooting guard, Ozar has to get more comfortable playing the shooting forward spot as adjustments have to be made by Gilas coach Patrick Aquino as mainstay center Clare Castro has yet to practice due to family matters.

That created a chain with Jack Animam serving as the only legitimate post presence of the team.

Ozar seems to be getting into the groove.

"At first, I wasn't comfortable," said Ozar, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in last year's FIBA tourney.

"I have to adjust. I'm more comfortable playing as a guard, but I have to play as forward because I'm needed to," she added.

Ozar joins Animan and some of the mainstays of the team like Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos and Jack Animam as well as rising stars Ella Fajardo, Khate Castillo, Camille Clarin and Stef Berberabe.

Also fighting for roster spots are Trina Guytinco, Angel Surada, Mikka Cacho and Andrea Tongco.

In the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, the Philippines, ranked 42nd in the world and seventh in the Asian region, is bracketed with Australia, Chinese Taipei and Japan.