#GilasGritAndGrind: Under the radar, Gilas Women gears up for FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifiers

While everyone is busy about the total lockdown on the men's side of Gilas Pilipinas, it was a different story for the women's team.

As soon as the plane landed in Manila after their final game of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, the Filipinas went straight to work at the Aero Center in Quezon City, going all out in their daily, three-hour practices in the evening to prepare for the FIBA Women's Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament which tips off on November 14 in New Zealand.

"It's a little bit tiring, because yung pressure is coming talaga to perform well, especially with this once in a lifetime chance," said head coach Patrick Aquino, who run the drills and the set plays alongside his NU Lady Bulldogs, who are coming off yet another regular season sweep, their sixth straight in the UAAP where they won 94 in a row as of the moment.

The road to Quezon Avenue last November 5 was not as easy as what you think, when the writer had to burn much of his pocket money on taxis as he got the location a bit too far.

But the stress of commuting was wiped off when the women worked their way on the hardwood in the sixth floor, virtually free from any outside distraction despite it was an open event, free to the public unlike what happened at the Meralco Gym the day before.

However, Aquino did not mind about the absence of the press to cover it, except for just one. "Wala naman siguro kaming itatago. More exposed kami dapat, that's all we need."

Their opening assignment? It was the host nation no less, with South Korea (November 16) and China (November 17 rounding up their schedule.

And what comes after their final trip overseas? Their homestand in the Southeast Asian Games, as they try to get a medal since former mentor Haydee Ong got them a silver in 2015.

"Definitely its still on back of our minds. This Pre-qualifying tournament will be a good gauge for us. We hope that we could perform well, and match the you know what you call, sabihin na nating hinihingi nila sa atin."

Of course, Aquino knows that,  even if it means to be cautious as they are the most scouted team in the region, owing to their Division 1 status in Asia.

"We're the underdogs here as far as a I'm concern. We have no podium [finishes] for the past two SEA Games," he admitted, as he thinks that the fourteen-time champions Malaysia are still the golden favorites.

Even the lack of publicity did not deter him in this cause, as it's not just the results that they are looking for, but also the respect that they deserve since they play for the flag too. "We're hungry. We wanted to show how our countrymen what women's basketball is all about in the Philippines."

With the golden target, Aquino bared that there's only one thing that will be the key, given that they have spent six more days after this practice as they already hopped on the plane to Auckland this Monday morning..

"By doing that, by having that, we have to prepare really well. We hope that we could get that."

(contributed photo)