Gilas Pilipinas Women lose to Chinese Taipei 85-59 in Jones Cup opener

Gilas Pilipinas Women suffered an 85-59 defeat against Chinese Taipei in their opening game at the 2025 William Jones Cup on Wednesday in Taiwan.

Jack Animam led Gilas with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Naomi Panganiban contributed 11 points for the team.

Despite efforts from Ella Fajardo, Sumayah Sugapong, and Vanessa De Jesus to narrow the gap, Chinese Taipei maintained a strong lead throughout the game, outrebounding the Philippines 47-38 and posting 27 assists compared to Gilas' 13.

The hosts built on their halftime advantage with a dominant third quarter, extending their lead to 63-43 by the end of the frame.

Sidney Cooks was instrumental for Chinese Taipei, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds as Gilas struggled to keep up with the team's performance.

Gilas Pilipinas now stands at 0-1 in the tournament while Chinese Taipei holds a perfect record with their win. The Filipino squad will face Thailand on Thursday, July 3, at 4:00 p.m., looking to bounce back from their loss.