After leading for nearly 32 minutes and building a 15-point advantage, Gilas Pilipinas Women watched it all slip away, falling to host Mexico 61-58 in the FIBA pre-Olympic qualifying tournament on Tuesday, Aug. 18, in Guadalajara.
It was a heartbreaking start to the BT Toews era, with the loss putting Philippines in a difficult position as it now needs wins against Canada and Senegal to keep its semifinal hopes alive.
Here are the positives Gilas Women can build on and the areas they need to address after letting one get away against Mexico.
De Jesus' offensive creation and Animam's inside presence
Philippines' offensive creation hinged on what Vanessa De Jesus could generate on the ball and how Jack Animam operated in the pick-and-roll, particularly with what her rolls opened up for Gilas Women.
This approach paid dividends early, with the two combining for 15 points to give Philippines a cushion in the first half.
The naturalized Filipina guard finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and four assists, while the 6-foot-5 center added 14 points and six rebounds on 71.4% shooting from two-point range
Unfortunately, De Jesus and Animam did not get enough support from their fellow locals -- as Gilas Women collectively shot just 28.6% from the field.
Philippines' only other consistent source of scoring came from Sophia Dignadice, who was inserted in the second half and provided an efficient eight points, including two triples, in 11 minutes.
That made things increasingly difficult for De Jesus and Animam once Mexico's defense locked in on the two.
The 24-year-old guard failed to make a single field goal in the second half and finished 5-for-14 from the field, while Animam struggled to capitalize on her opportunities at the free throw line, going just 4-for-9 -- as their counterpart outscored them 36-21 in the second half.
Moving forward, Gilas Women will need to find ways to keep De Jesus and Animam involved without allowing the offense to become too dependent on the duo.
If defenses continue to load up on Philippines' two primary creators, finding reliable scoring from the supporting cast will be crucial -- especially with Canada and Senegal still waiting on the schedule.
Dela Rosa and Bernardino struggled heavily
Gilas Women also needed more from two of their usual offensive contributors, as Kacey Dela Rosa and Afril Bernardino struggled to find their rhythm against Mexico.
With Animam back in the fold, the 22-year-old Dela Rosa was pushed to the power forward spot -- forcing her to operate more from the perimeter and space the floor around the veteran center.
That shift was evident in her shot profile, as Dela Rosa was also asked to attack off movement rather than operate primarily around the paint.
The result was a difficult shooting night, with the two-time UAAP MVP finishing with six points and ten rebounds on a woeful 24.1 TS%. She also went 0-for-3 from beyond the arc and fouled out after 29 minutes.
Bernardino, meanwhile, struggled to make an impact in her limited 10.4 minutes on the floor. The Gilas Women veteran managed just two points on 1-for-2 shooting while adding three rebounds, but Toews still entrusted her with a spot in the closing lineup.
However, that trust did not pay off down the stretch, as Bernardino committed two costly turnovers with a moving screen and an errant pass -- with Philippines still having a chance to steal the game after Mexico missed its free throws.
With little margin for error in the next two games, Toews will need to get more out of both players while continuing to define their roles alongside Animam.
Dela Rosa's ability to impact the game without needing the ball in the post and Bernardino's veteran presence could prove especially important in helping Gilas Women avoid another offensive drought when De Jesus and Animam inevitably draw the bulk of the defensive attention.