Perlas banks on speed in FIBA Asia Women's Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- Perlas Pilipinas is banking on its speed and quickness to make up for its lack of height and experience in the 2017 FIBA Asia Women's Cup in Bangalore, India next week.

This marks the first time that the Filipina players under coach Patrick Aquino will be seeing action against the finest women's teams in the region, following their promotion to Level 1 during the 2015 FIBA Women's Asian Championship in Wuhan, China.

Perlas Pilipinas coach Patrick Aquino. Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN Sports

However, they are bracing for a tough campaign as they are bracketed in Group B along with South Korea, Australia, and defending champion Japan. The Japanese women are led by Ramu Tokashiki, who plays for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.

Group A, meanwhile, is composed of New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, North Korea, and China.

Aquino is aware that Perlas Pilipinas will be at a disadvantage as far as experience is concerned, but he hopes that the Filipinas can use their quickness and athleticism to their advantage.

"We’re much faster because we’re smaller. As far as talent is concerned, hindi naman talaga nagkakalayo," the Perlas Pilipinas coach said at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/12/17/perlas-banks-on-speed-in-fiba-asia-womens-cup