11-deep 'proud' Opals dismantle Philippines by 76

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The Australian Opals were clinical in their opening game of the 2025 Asia Cup demolishing the Philippines 115-39 at Shenzhen Sports Center in China on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Miela Sowah delivered an outstanding 19-point performance in 17 minutes off the bench highlighted a dominant display as Australia displayed remarkable efficiency throughout while Chloe Bibby had a 16-point, 10 rebound double-double in just 20 minutes.

Six Australians scored double figure points.

Bibby said: "I’m really proud of the girls. I thought we played really hard and we played together today, which was great.

"I think that reflects in the assist and turnover ratio. I’m just really proud of how we stayed together and remained consistent for those 40 minutes.

"All 11 players were ready to go when they stepped on the floor. I’m really proud of them. They’ve put in all the hard work in the off-season and during the preparation to get here. They took their opportunities and played with confidence, and we’re going to need that throughout the tournament.

"I’m really proud of how they showed up today, not only offensively but defensively as well. I thought Abbey (Ellis) did a great job sharing the ball and getting deflections. Her full-court pressure was really great.

"Everyone else contributed with rebounding and making their presence felt both offensively and defensively."

Head coach Paul Goriss added: "We wanted to move the ball and come out with a defensive focus, and I think that really built the edge for us that continued throughout the rest of the game.

"Our ball movement was elite — we ended up with 36 assists on 46 made field goals. Our ball movement, our player movement, and our spacing were excellent. But what I'm most happy about is our deflections, our steals, and being able to hold the team to 39 points.

"A gold medal has eluded us for a very long time here at the Asia Cup. It's something that we’ve got a great focus on — to come in here and try to win that gold medal. Obviously, China is a very good team, and playing at home in their country is going to make them a very tough opponent.

"But for us right now, it’s about one game at a time, focusing on us and continuing to get better.

We know that Lebanon will be a great opponent tomorrow, and then Japan, so we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves.

"We’re focused on the things we can control and improve on, knowing that the road is going to get tougher every day that we’re here."

Key Details

• Result: Australia 115 def. Philippines 39
• When: July 13, 2025
• Where: Shenzhen Sports Center, People's Republic of China

By the Numbers

• Miela Sowah (Australia) starred with 19 points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block in 17 minutes.
• Vanessa De Jesus (Philippines) scored nine points and had three rebounds, one assist in 29 minutes.

What Happened

Australia established complete dominance from the opening tip, overwhelming the Philippines with superior size, skill and execution. The Opals' efficient offense generated high-percentage shots throughout, evidenced by their stellar 60.5 percent shooting from the field (46-from-76), including an impressive 42.3 percent (11-from-26) from beyond the arc.

The Australians' interior presence proved decisive as they outscored Philippines 70-24 in the paint while controlling the glass with a commanding 57-21 rebounding advantage. Sara Blicavs delivered 17 points on efficient 7-from-13 shooting, while Chloe Bibby added 16 points and 10 rebounds to secure a double-double. The Opals' ball movement was exceptional, generating 36 assists on 46 made field goals, with Abbey Ellis and Stephanie Reid both contributing nine assists each.

Defensively, Australia's length and positioning frustrated the Philippines throughout, holding them to a dismal 27 percent from the field (17-from-63). The Opals created havoc with 10 steals while forcing 22 turnovers, converting these opportunities into easy transition baskets. The defensive pressure was relentless, as Philippines failed to reach the free-throw line effectively, missing all four attempts.

Australia showcased their depth with seven players scoring eight or more points. Beyond Sowah's 19 points on 70 percent shooting (7-from-10), Blicavs' 17 points, and Bibby's 16, the team received solid contributions from Courtney Woods (11 points), Alexandra Fowler (11 points, five assists), and Isobel Borlase (10 points). This balanced attack kept the Philippines defense constantly guessing and unable to focus on stopping any single player.

With this victory, Australia strengthens their position in Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup, showcasing why they remain one of the tournament favorites. Philippines will need to regroup quickly after this lopsided defeat if they hope to advance from the group stage.