France Dominates Philippines, Dominique Malonga Delivers Historic Dunk!

The French women's team convincingly dominated an atypical Philippines squad, characterized by their smaller stature (average height of 1.71m, with Kacey Dela Rosa at 1.83m) and a lack of top-level international experience. The "Bleues" imposed their physical power against agile opponents who were unable to compete. The Philippines must now face Colombia and South Korea in an attempt to qualify for the World Cup.

Coach Jean-Aimé Toupane ensured playing time was distributed, with every player, including Aminata Gueye (a minimum of 10 minutes), getting their share. Nevertheless, the undisputed star of the evening was Dominique Malonga, not only for her spectacular play but also for her efficiency near the basket (21 points on 8/11 shooting, 9 rebounds, and an efficiency rating of 30).

Dominique Malonga's Historic Dunk!

Leïla Lacan, Gabby Williams, Valériane Ayayi, Janelle Salaün, and Marième Badiane formed the starting five, and the "Bleues" wasted no time scoring, opening their account after just 28 seconds. Despite some initial roughness and the defensive tenacity of the Philippines, the French team quickly asserted their superior physical attributes, notably through an already in-form Dominique Malonga (10 points in 4 minutes), leading 7-2, then 19-4, and 24-9 by the end of the first quarter.

Despite limited three-point accuracy (1/10), France's impenetrable defense allowed them to build a significant lead, ahead 32-9 when the Astroballe lights temporarily went out. But the most memorable moment of the evening came from Dominique Malonga who, on a lightning-fast fast break, dribbled the length of the court to execute the very first dunk in the history of the senior French women's national team (Alicia Tournebize had already achieved this feat with the junior team last summer). At halftime, France held a comfortable 53-26 lead.

Extending the Lead: 40, 50 points ahead...

After a brief lull at the start of the second half, the French, visibly challenged, launched a new offensive surge, extending their lead to over 40 points (77-35) against a visibly exhausted Philippines team. Marine Johannès showcased her signature brilliant passes. The 50-point lead was surpassed (91-40), and coach Toupane paired Dominique Malonga and Aminata Gueye. Despite a late rally from the Asian team, France broke the 100-point barrier (101-53) with a short-range basket from the inevitable Malonga. The Philippines managed to slightly mitigate the damage towards the end of the game, but this was merely anecdotal given France's overall dominance.

The French team will face Colombia tomorrow, Thursday, at 8:30 PM. A similar scenario is anticipated, which, in case of a victory, would mean a near-certain qualification for the World Cup.