Peter Jandrei Melan

A sluggish start and offensive struggles doomed Gilas Pilipinas Women as they absorbed a crushing 80–58 loss to South Korea in the 2025 William Jones Cup on Friday, at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium, July 4 (Philippine time). 

Photo Courtesy of FIBA Asia.

Coming off a resounding bounce-back win over Thailand, Gilas Pilipinas couldn’t sustain their momentum and were left chasing shadows early, falling into a double-digit deficit that ballooned to as much as 26–12 after the opening quarter. 

They never recovered.

South Korea, bronze medalist in the 2023 Asian Games and fifth-placer in the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, showed its pedigree from the get-go, combining sharp outside shooting, fast breaks, and halfcourt discipline to dominate all four quarters.

Gilas, now 1–2 in the tournament, struggled mightily to keep pace. Vanessa De Jesus, the hero of their win against Thailand, was shackled by early foul trouble and was limited to just three points on 1-of-10 shooting, coughing up four turnovers in a forgettable outing.

With De Jesus neutralized, it was Sumayah Sugapong who took charge offensively, scoring a team-high 16 points along with four rebounds and three assists. 

Jack Animam continued her steady play inside, registering a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Ella Fajardo chipped in 11 markers.

Still, the Korean firepower was simply too much.

Isaem Choi erupted for 23 points, consistently punishing the Philippines with perimeter jumpers and transition buckets. 

Jihyun Park added 17 points and seven boards, powering South Korea to a 2–1 record in the standings and firmly in contention for the top spot.

The loss underscored recurring problems for Gilas: defensive lapses in the opening frame, offensive rhythm disrupted by pressure defense, and reliance on short scoring bursts rather than sustained execution. 

After being outclassed by host Chinese Taipei in their opener, 85-59, and splitting their last two games, Gilas now faces a pivotal stretch.

Their next test? A towering one.

The Philippines is set to face tournament leader Japan Universiade, a collegiate powerhouse boasting a perfect 2-0 record, including a dominant 103-49 win over Thailand and a gritty 75-69 victory over South Korea. 

The matchup is expected to be the Filipinas’ most challenging yet and could determine their final placement in this round-robin tournament.

With no semifinals or playoffs in the Jones Cup, where every win is crucial, Gilas must regroup fast and bring its best form forward in what could be a make-or-break game.

Beyond the tournament, both South Korea and the Philippines are preparing for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, where they will compete in separate groups–Korea in Group A with China, New Zealand, and Indonesia; and the Philippines in Group B with heavyweights Japan, Australia, and Lebanon.

For now, though, Gilas Pilipinas Women must focus on finishing strong in Taipei–starting with a shot at redemption against the red-hot Japanese squad.