Cagebelles start redemption bid

Gilas Pilipinas Women team tries to erase the stigma of its bitter setback when it faces Chinese Taipei's Blue Squad in the opening salvo of the William Jones Cup on Saturday at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium in Taipei.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with the national cagebelles hoping to come up with an impressive win against the host squad in this invitational tourney.

The last time they saw action in the Jones Cup was in 2019.

The Nationals, however, failed to win a single game, but it powered them to come up with a strong performance in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Gilas coach Patrick Aquino said they are looking to ride the momentum of their victorious stints in the past few international events, including their 92-81 win over the Taiwanese in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup last month.

Aquino will be parading a different crew bannered by naturalized player Malia Bambrick, Gabi Bade, Kacey Dela Rosa and the returning Monique del Carmen.

"We want to see the other players and evaluate who among them can play with us in the Asian Games," Aquino said.

"This is part of our build up for our first Asiad."

Gilas Pilipinas will be led by mainstays Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos as well as Louna Ozar, Jhazmin Joson, Stephanie Berberabe and Andrea Tongco.