#FIBAOQT: Gilas Women mauled by New Zealand to open group A campaign

The Gilas Pilipinas Women's Team dropped their opening assignment in the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Asian Tournament after hosts New Zealand ran riot with a 111-54 beatdown Tuesday evening in Auckland (afternoon Manila time).

The 57-point win was made possible thanks to the Tall Ferns' solid second quarter, limiting Gilas Women to just eleven points there, snuffing out any chances of a close contest when the home side led by only seven at the end of the first, for their opening win in Group A play.

New Zealand punctuated that with a 12-0 run that made it 50-22 midway into the period, as they went up by 32 at the break.

In a wire-to-wire display, Guy Molloy's ladies ran like a merciless machine, imposing their will against the much shorter visitors to get their homecoming on a bright note as everyone scored at least a field goal en route to a 54% clip, five of them hit double-digit territory.

Tessa Boagni and Penina Davidson stood the tallest for the Tall Ferns, as they each had 16 points with the former played a perfect game as she made all six field-goal attempts, and the latter added 11 rebounds for a double-double.

For the Filipinas, Afril Bernardino scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the opening period, but that was all that she mustered as they were pummeled to the ground with their bad second period that ended their chances. Janine Pontejos and Kelli Hayes each had 10 to backstop the former NU Lady Bulldog.

Despite the loss, the Filipinos in New Zealand turned up to support them, which was a huge boost after their arrival on Monday. 

On Saturday, Gilas Women will take on South Korea, who upset China 81-80 earlier in the 10 AM game, hoping for a better showing as they try to get the top two spots into the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The scores:

New Zealand 111 -- Davidson 16, Boagni 16, Karaitiana 13, Edmondson 12, Taylor 11, Paalvaast 9, Cocks 8, Leger-Walker 8, Beck 8, Blair 6, Purcell 2, Fotu 2.

Philippines 54 -- Bernardino 17, Hayes 10, Pontejos 10, Miranda 9, Castillo 6, Animam 2, Cabinbin 0, Jose 0, Tongco 0, Chan 0, Nabalan 0

Quarter scores: 24-17, 60-28, 83-47, 111-54

Photos by FIBA