Elizabeth Means wasted no time showing Filipinos what she can bring to Gilas Pilipinas Women.
The new naturalized player put on a masterful performance in her national team debut, finishing with 23 points, four rebounds and eight steals as Gilas Women dominated Kazakhstan 86-52 to open their Asian Games campaign on Thursday at Aichi International Arena.
Means shot 9-of-17 from the field, including 6-of-8 from the 2-point range and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc.
She also finished with an impressive 64.32% true shooting percentage, giving Gilas a glimpse of the offensive versatility that made her such an intriguing addition to the national team.
The 6-foot naturalized Filipino played center against Kazakhstan but hardly looked like a traditional big. Means showcased her speed and finesse, creating scoring opportunities in ways Gilas Women have not always had from the frontcourt.
Moreover, she gave Philippines a capable pick-and-roll threat and a floor spacer, with her high-arching release capable of punishing bigger defenders who dare her to shoot from long range. Her ability to stretch the floor also opened up more room for Gilas' guards to attack.
Means, who had been playing in the local 3x3 circuit in Manila, was also comfortable going up against smaller players. While her handles still need tightening, she showed she can rise over defenders off the dribble and create her own shot in isolation.
Philippines finished with ten 3-pointers on 32 attempts for 31% shooting from beyond the arc.
Kazakhstan did not pose much of a threat offensively, but their height and length gave the team a competitive edge. They outrebounded Philippines 42-30, exposing one of the challenges of playing Means at center despite her ability to operate as a big.
Still, Means' versatility proved valuable on the other end. Playing alongside Gilas' speedy guards, she helped disrupt Kazakhstan's offense as Philippines forced 34 turnovers, including 26 coming off steals.
Stef Berberabe looked like a well-oiled engine running up and down the court for most of the game, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, eight assists and five steals.
For head coach BT Toews, seeing Means play alongside the national team pool in a 5-on-5 competition provides a valuable framework for what Gilas Women could look like once Jack Animam returns to the fold.
Means and Animam could form a formidable frontcourt, with Means providing shooting gravity and on-ball creation while Animam brings her interior presence.
The combination could give Toews another dimension to work with, particularly against teams that can match Gilas' speed on the perimeter.
The team may not see that partnership until the next tournament after the Asian Games, but Means' debut already offered a glimpse of what could be ahead for Gilas Women.
For now, Means has given Philippines a new and versatile scoring option for its Asian Games campaign.
Next up for Gilas Women is Hong Kong on Sunday, Sept. 20.