The Philippine national women’s basketball team retained its spot in the elite Division A after thumping North Korea, 78-63, in the classification phase of the 2017 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Saturday at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bangaluru, India.
It was the first tournament victory for Perlas Pilipinas which had dropped its first five assignments against Asia’s best squads.
But most importantly, the result helped the Filipinas avoid a last-place finish which would have sent them back to the lower Division B.
Allana Lim spearheaded Perlas Pilipinas with 16 points and four rebounds while Analyn Almazan contributed 13 points and five boards.
Cindy Resultay added a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards, as Jack Danielle Animam tallied 10 points in the rousing win that saw Perlas Pilipinas lead by as many as 27 points.