Peter Jandrei Melan 

After a shaky start in Taiwan, Gilas Pilipinas Women came alive.

Photo Courtesy of Xinhua Photo.

Behind twin 23-point explosions from Jack Animam and Vanessa De Jesus, Gilas Pilipinas crushed Thailand, 83-66, to pick up their first win in the 44th William Jones Cup 2025 at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium, July 3.

De Jesus, the newly minted Notre Dame guard, dazzled with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal in just her second game with the senior squad. 

Animam, as steady as ever, imposed her will in the paint with 23 markers, 14 rebounds, and two steals to anchor the inside game.

Sumayah Sugapong added spark with 11 points, five boards, and three assists, while Louna Ozar and Ella Fajardo combined for 15 off the bench to keep the pressure on.

After trailing 36-37 at halftime, GIlas Pilipinas flipped the switch in the third quarter, torching the Thais with a 26-12 blitz that opened the floodgates for a rout. 

Their defense tightened, their ball movement sharpened, and Thailand simply had no answer.

The victory not only got Gilas back on track following their opening-day blowout loss to Chinese Taipei, but also reignited their rhythm ahead of a key matchup.

Gilas Pilipinas Women return to action on Friday, July 4, against a tough South Korean squad. Tipoff is at 2:00 PM (Manila time), as the Filipinas continue their buildup toward the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup later this month.