Gilas Pilipinas Women's Basketball 2022: Key Players, Roster Updates, and Season Highlights

When I first started following the Gilas Pilipinas Women's Basketball team back in 2022, I remember being struck by their incredible team spirit. That season felt particularly special - you could sense something building from the very beginning. The roster had undergone some significant changes, and there was this palpable energy around the team that made every game worth watching. What really stood out to me was how the players embodied that philosophy we heard so often: "We just take it one game at a time, stay humble and trabaho pa rin." This wasn't just some catchy slogan - it genuinely reflected their approach throughout the entire season.

The key players that season were absolutely phenomenal. Jack Animam, standing at 6'5", dominated the paint in ways that reminded me of legendary centers from the past. Her defensive presence was something else entirely - she averaged 2.8 blocks per game during the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, completely changing how opponents approached the basket. Then you had Janine Pontejos, whose three-point shooting was nothing short of spectacular. I still remember that game against Chinese Taipei where she hit 5 three-pointers in the first half alone. But what impressed me most about these players wasn't just their individual stats - it was how they bought into the team concept. They understood that basketball is ultimately about collective effort, about that "trabaho pa rin" mentality that defined their season.

Roster updates that year brought some fresh faces that really made a difference. The addition of 22-year-old point guard Ella Fajardo brought this incredible energy off the bench - her speed in transition was something we hadn't seen in previous seasons. Then there was the return of Afril Bernardino after her stint in the Korean league, which gave the team this veteran presence that proved crucial in close games. What I found particularly interesting was how coach Pat Aquino managed to blend these new elements with the existing core. He didn't force immediate changes but allowed the chemistry to develop naturally, game by game, exactly following that "one game at a time" approach the team lived by.

The season highlights were numerous, but if I had to pick my personal favorite moment, it would have to be their stunning victory against South Korea in the quarterfinals. The team was down by 12 points going into the fourth quarter, and honestly, most of us watching had pretty much given up hope. But the way they fought back - it was pure magic. They outscored South Korea 28-9 in that final quarter, with Animam recording 4 blocks in the last five minutes alone. That game perfectly encapsulated their season - the resilience, the never-say-die attitude, and that commitment to just focusing on the next possession rather than the scoreboard.

What many people don't realize is how much work went on behind the scenes. I had the chance to speak with one of the team assistants mid-season, and they shared how the players would often stay after practice for extra shooting sessions. Not because they were told to, but because they genuinely wanted to put in that extra "trabaho." This work ethic translated into some impressive statistics - the team improved their free throw percentage from 68% in 2021 to 76% in 2022, and their three-point shooting saw a similar jump from 31% to 37%. These might seem like small improvements to casual observers, but for those of us who followed the team closely, they represented the cumulative effect of that day-by-day approach.

The Asian Games performance particularly stood out to me. Finishing fourth might not sound like a massive achievement on paper, but considering they were up against powerhouse teams like China and Japan, it showed remarkable progress. Their defense improved dramatically throughout the tournament - they held opponents to just 62.3 points per game compared to the 71.8 they allowed in previous competitions. What I loved watching was how their defensive rotations became more synchronized as the season progressed. It was clear evidence of that "stay humble" mentality - they recognized their weaknesses and worked tirelessly to address them rather than making excuses.

Looking back, the 2022 season represented a turning point for Gilas Pilipinas Women's Basketball in my opinion. They won 15 of their 22 official games that year, their best record in recent memory. But beyond the numbers, they established an identity - that blue-collar, hard-working team that never quit. Even in losses, they maintained their composure and kept fighting. I remember specifically that close defeat against Japan where they lost by just 4 points despite being huge underdogs. The players walked off the court with their heads held high, already talking about what they needed to improve for the next game. That resilience, that commitment to continuous improvement - that's what made following this team so rewarding.

As the season wrapped up, I found myself reflecting on how much the team had grown. From the opening game to their final match, you could see the evolution not just in their skills but in their mentality. They'd internalized that "one game at a time" philosophy so thoroughly that it became their trademark. When other teams might have gotten ahead of themselves looking at standings or future matchups, the Gilas Women remained focused on the immediate task. This approach, combined with their undeniable talent and work ethic, makes me genuinely excited for the future of women's basketball in the Philippines. The 2022 season wasn't just about wins and losses - it was about establishing a culture that I believe will bear fruit for years to come.