Australia’s Sapphires enter the knockout rounds of the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup with an unbeaten record and a growing reputation as the team to beat.
The Sapphires dispatched the Philippines (123 - 42), Korea (119 - 40) and Chinese Taipei (126 - 46) to finish 3-0 with an average winning margin of nearly 80 points. But for Head Coach Tom Garlepp, the numbers only tell part of the story.
“We have affirmed our depth through the group stage. While the results may suggest that we have consistently had games on our terms, I feel that we have still managed to emerge with both a defensive focus, and a commitment to staying together as we head into the business end of the week,” said Garlepp.
The Sapphires’ defensive focus has laid the foundation for their success, but it’s their versatility that continues to set them apart. Coach Garlepp points to the team’s balanced contributions and emerging leaders as a key piece of their identity.
“All players have represented their country well, whether it be diving on loose balls, lifting someone up when they themselves may not be having their best game, he said.
These are some leadership examples that are starting to bob up consistently and that is encouraging."
A defining feature of the Sapphires’ group stage campaign has been their command of the glass.
With Manyok, Trout and Mapp all sitting inside the tournament’s top six rebounders, Australia has not only generated valuable second-chance opportunities but also turned defensive boards into quick transition play which has been a crucial edge against their opponents.
“A hunger for possession when it’s in dispute is definitely a focus of ours. And those three players are setting a great tone each match so far,” said Coach Garlepp.
Looking ahead, the Sapphires are preparing for some of the toughest tests of the tournament. Both China and Japan bring distinct challenges that will demand the very best from the Sapphires.
“China and Japan placing top two in their pool and we are teams we will be mindful of with our preparation. That said, New Zealand have shown they are also close to the mark and could very well make a late run so those would be the teams we are preparing for,” added Garlepp.
The Sapphires now stand at the threshold of the Asia Cup’s defining moments. Depth, resilience and a hunger for the contest have been their trademarks, as the competition tightens, those qualities may prove decisive in the pursuit of gold.
