SHENZHEN (China) - Quarterbacking an offense has always been easy for a natural playmaker like Agustin Gradita, and she'd be doing the same for Indonesia come the much awaited FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025.
But there is, without a doubt, an added pressure for the 30-year-old in fulfilling that role this time around, as she will have to run the point for a team that's hungry to prove that they deserve to be in Division A.
For a quick refresher, the Southeast Asian side earned the promotion to the competition's upper echelon following a mighty five-game sweep of Division B during the previous edition back in 2023 in Australia.
Gradita played a critical part in their unbeaten run in Sydney as their stabilizer on the hardwood, as evidenced by her solid per-game averages of 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and easily a tournament-best 7.6 assists.
Yes, no other player in the whole 2023 meet racked up that many dimes a night than her - Japan's Mai Yamamoto led Division A with 5.2 - and that fact alone speaks volumes on her quality as a PG.
Can she replicate as much in the top division?
Well, that remains to be seen. But what we could be sure of is that Gradita won't ever shy away from the moment no matter how big the stage could get, most especially when she's representing Indonesia internationally.
A look at her basketball resume would see that she's competed in the six previous Southeast Asian Games and has won medals in the last five, none bigger than the gold they struck in the most recent edition in 2023.
Lest we forget that she can deliver in the FIBA club scene, too.
Gradita was actually one of the top guards during the Women's Basketball League Asia (WBLA) inaugurals back in September of last year as she and Surabaya proudly waved the Indonesian flag in Chengdu.
Although the Fever didn't have the most ideal of stints, the 2013 WNBL Indonesia Rookie of the Year still stood out. She finished with norms of 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a tournament-best 2.3 steals.
It goes without saying that Indonesia will have their work cut out for them if they are to stay in Division A, and so there's no better time for Gradita to put her vast experience to use in reaching that goal than now.
FIBA