CHICAGO — In an unbelievably perplexing move, the basketball head coaching position at the women’s national team has been vacated.
Pat Aquino is out as the top play-caller at Gilas Pilipinas Women, as SPIN.ph reported on Saturday.
READ: Pat Aquino's 12-year tenure as Gilas Women coach ends
Aquino’s contract, which expires at the end of the year, will not be renewed, I was told.
The dream of every program is continuity and sustained excellence, both of which Aquino represented.
In replacing the 54-year old tactician, this change of direction by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is a step backwards.
BASKETBALL LIFER.
Aquino, whose hoops roots took shape at NU and spread at Blackwater in the PBA, is not only the longest tenured Gilas Women’s coach.
He was also the most successful.
And he is also a really nice guy, loved by his players, respected by his competitors, and adored by his peers.
Which makes this firing, probably sanitized later as a mutual parting of ways, even harder to swallow.
When the former UP Fighting Maroon took over in 2015, our women’s squad was ranked 56 in the world.
Our ladies are now No. 30 and had just smoked No. 19 Columbia in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers last March 17 in France.
WINNING COACH.
Under his watch, Gilas Women annexed three Southeast Asian Games gold medals in 2019, 2021, and 2025.
Under his direction, our under-16 and under-18 programs have also been elevated from Division B to Division A play.
Aquino was just getting started. And then the ax came chopping.
Stunningly, unexpectedly.
But why?
Is SBP allergic to success, or does somebody well-connected wants the job?
Your guess is as goid as mine.
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