GILAS Pilipinas Women is embarking on a bid to make it to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, as it competes in the pre-qualifiers set in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Philippines is bracketed in Group C and will go up against Brazil on August 19, Hungary on August 20, and Senegal on August 22 in the Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
Group D is composed of host Rwanda, Great Britain, Argentina, and Lebanon.
The top two teams in each group will then play in a crossover semifinals, with the winners fighting over the right to be the lone squad to advance to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.
The qualifying tournament will be held in March 2026 where the top six teams from Europe, Americas, and Asia, top four in Africa, and two teams from the pre-qualifiers will be in action.
Gilas Women will be fielding 11 players in Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Ella Fajardo, Kacey Dela Rosa, Khate Castillo, Camille Nolasco, Naomi Panganiban, Stephanie Berberabe, Louna Ozar, and Kristal Yumul.
Tall task for Gilas Women
As they set out to make history anew, national team coach Pat Aquino acknowledged the competition will be tough.
“We had a good training camp in Baguio in preparation for the tournament. I just hope we can show that when we play,” said Aquino.
“It’s going to be tough, but the determination and gusto ng mga bata will get us there,” he added.
Before the pre-qualifiers, Gilas Women saw action in the 43rd William Jones Cup where it finished in fourth place.
READ: Gilas Women end Jones Cup campaign with loss to Chinese Taipei-A
The Filipinas also competed in the Pinoyliga Cup and won the championship before heading to Baguio City for their training camp.
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