Gilas Youth beat Samoa for second win
Published on September 7, 2022

Gilas Pilipinas Youth took the top spot in Group A of the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 after a decisive 66-59 win over Samoa, Tuesday in India.

Sumayah Sugapong led the team with an all-around performance. She finished with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Kristian Yumul and Kate Bobadilla continued to play well in the tournament. Yumul was the second-leading scorer of the team with 16 points and five triples. Bobadilla had eight points, nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the game.

Gilas Youth got off to a hot start in the game, going on a 12-3 run in the final five minutes of the first period. Sugapong, Bobadilla, and Yumul all had a hand in the scoring spree that turned the team’s one-point margin into a 12-point advantage. The Philippines was able to stay ahead for most of the game.

In the fourth period, Samoa went on its own run to cut the Gilas advantage down to just four points, with a little over five minutes left in the game. Sugapong put out the fire with a jumper, followed by assists on back-to-back Louna Ozar hits. That 6-0 run rebuilt the Philippines’ double-digit lead, allowing them to cruise comfortably until the final buzzer.

Gilas Youth is now assured of a spot in the next phase with a 2-0 record in Group A. They’re looking to stay undefeated when they face the final team in their group, Maldives, at 4:00 PM on Wednesday. 

The Philippines is aiming to win this tournament to get promoted to Division A.