Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. FIBA Basketball.

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773815841651IMG_0411.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. FIBA Basketball."/>Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. FIBA Basketball.Gilas Pilipinas Women may have ended their run at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, but they brought home a win and a historic milestone.</div>Gilas Women stunned Colombia, 74-59, to claim their first victory in the tournament at the Astroballe in Lyon, France, on Tuesday.At the final buzzer, the Filipinas were visibly ecstatic — cheering and holding their heads high after upsetting the World No. 19 squad.The victory marked the first win by Gilas Women against a non-Asian opponent in the history of the national team program.Gilas Women head coach Patrick Aquino praised his players for holding their own and representing the Philippines well in their debut on the world stage.“Looking at the matchups, the height gaps and everything, we’re outmatched by everyone. I wanted to be clear, this is not a lack of talent,” Aquino said during the post-game press conference.“The girls proved that Filipinas can play basketball. Definitely, we’re up to this world-class level. They never gave up, I’m so proud of them,” he added.Aside from Colombia, Gilas Women also faced powerhouse teams such as Paris Olympic silver medalist France, World No. 12 Germany, World No. 15 South Korea, and Women’s AfroBasket champion Nigeria.The longtime mentor cherished the historic win, which he believes will pave the way for further development and support for the program.“Yeah, reflecting on this journey. I’ve been with the Gilas program for a decade now. And seeing how we’ve grown, how we’ve become a team, and seeing them compete at this world-class level — it’s a journey we’ll cherish forever,” Aquino said.“And winning a game outside Asia against a top-caliber team means a lot back home. It’s probably the next step for us — to build more players in the program so we can sustain and compete at this level,” he added.Gilas Women finished their first appearance in the tournament with a 1-4 record.

Gilas Pilipinas Women may have ended their run at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, but they brought home a win and a historic milestone.

Gilas Pilipinas Women may have ended their run at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, but they brought home a win and a historic milestone.

FIBA: Pat Aquino cherishes Gilas Women’s first win against non-Asian opponent

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

FIBA: Pat Aquino cherishes Gilas Women’s first win against non-Asian opponent

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 18, 2026 02:47 PM PHT

Read More:

FIBA

ABSSports

Gilas Pilipinas Women

Patrick Aquino

Gilas Women

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.