#SEAGames2019: Gilas Women hopes for massive support for the 5-on-5 tilt after nabbing the 3x3 Gold

Getting the first ever gold in Women's 3x3 Basketball in front of the home crowd is the sweetest thing that happened to the Philippine Team, and for them it meant so much that the game will get the much needed momentum heading into the showpiece 5x5 event.

That was all coach Patrick Aquino and his ladies had said as they got the first ever gold in the sport that never got the proper attention as their male counterparts have, as they turned their attention to the full game later in the week.

"Sana dire-diretso na ito. I hope with this win, ma-recognize yung hard work ng mga girls," he said after Gilas Pilipinas Women got the gold Monday in San Juan, avenging their earlier loss to Thailand in the preliminary round.

Aquino admitted that the OT defeat made them learn the mistakes so that they could not repeat it from now on.

"Probably. Di kami magiging complacent after that."

He then added that unlike the 3x3, the 5-on-5 had lesser teams and as such, the games there are must-win situations. That means the quest to end the SEA Games medal drought since predecessor Haydee Ong and Perlas captured silver in Myanmar 2013 will be harder.

"We hope na makuha natin yung elusive gold na yan. Sabi ko lang sa kanila. We just have to take it one game at a time," Aquino added, in which they will face Indonesia on December 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena to open their campaign.

Center Clare Castro echoed her coach's glee in which their golden experience will carry on to their five-on-five version.

"Yung experience namin dito, madala namin sa 5-on-5. Sana makuha din namin yung gold."

Revenge was on the mind of Afril Bernardino after their loss to Thailand, in which she poured it on in the gold medal game.

"Gusto namin bumawi," she said, while playing the rest of the competition with a thumb sprain as she brought the pain to the visitors with ten points in the gold medal game.

For Aquino, the fighting aura of Bernardino was added motivation for them to succeed.
"I know in her heart that she wants to prove something. Not only for us, but to all of you guys na anditon na sana mapansin niyo kami."