Camille Naredo

The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France. FIBA photo

The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France.

Article (news)

FIBA

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774262412842Gilas Women 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France. FIBA photo" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France. <em>FIBA photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas Women improved their world ranking after their campaign at the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying tournament last week.  </p><p>The Philippines moved up to No. 30 in the latest FIBA rankings released last Friday after the qualifying tournament. </p><p>This is nine spots higher than the previous No. 39 rank of Gilas Women in August 2025.  </p><p>Gilas Women finished the tournament with a 1-4 slate, capped off with a 74-59 victory over World No. 19 Colombia. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/3/17/gilas-women-end-world-cup-qualifiers-with-big-win-over-colombia-2341">READ: Gilas Women end World Cup qualifiers with big win over Colombia</a></div><p>Two-time UAAP MVP Kacey Dela Rosa erupted for 25 points and 18 rebounds against Colombia, powering Gilas Women to the historic win. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m super happy lang na I was able to help the team to get the win. And, yeah, I&#x27;m just happy to be there and play my game. And, yun nga, ma-help yung country na maangat,&quot; she told reporters at the All-Women in Sports Awards last Friday in Pasay City. </p><p>Gilas Women was recognized at the event for their gold medal win at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, as well as their maiden appearance in the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying Tournament. </p><p>For Dela Rosa, being able to compete on the world stage helped improve her game. </p><p>&quot;I really think this tournament can really help me to step on a bigger level. And super daming learnings ko na nakuha this tournament. And, yun, I can use that para since mag-ggraduate na ako sa Ateneo, for playing overseas,&quot; she said. </p><p>The two-time UAAP MVP was a major awardee in the All-Women in Sports Awards. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/3/18/fiba-pat-aquino-cherishes-gilas-women-s-first-win-against-non-asian-opponent-1447">READ: Pat Aquino cherishes Gilas Women’s first win against non-Asian opponent</a></div><p>Gilas Women Assistant Coach Julie Amos is glad the team was able to get the victory, lauding Dela Rosa for her performance against Colombia. </p><p>As a former national team player, Amos said women&#x27;s basketball in the Philippines has come a long way from when she was still playing.  </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s just nice to see na dati ang hirap eh. Kailangan mo may Betamax ka para mapanood ka. So right now, everything is digital. Mas madali tayo maka-convince sa mga athletes to join our team. Mas madali tayo maka-convince sa mga young ones to keep dreaming and to keep playing the basketball,&quot; Amos said. </p><p>&quot;So it&#x27;s just nice to see na nadadala na natin itong mga players na ito. Not just in international level, but Southeast Asia, Asian, and then World Cup. And with the help of POC, PSC, and the SBP, we just hope na we&#x27;ll just continue growing the women&#x27;s basketball here in the Philippines,&quot; she shared. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774262435844Gilas Women 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France. FIBA photo" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Women&#x27;s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Lyon, France. <em>FIBA photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>Amos was among the Sports Executive Awardees at the All-Women in Sports Awards. </p><p>The former national team player turned coach said the recent milestone of Gilas Women showcases the growth of Philippine basketball. </p><p>&quot;Well, when you talk about sports, it&#x27;s not just skills eh. Kailangan talaga meron ding passion yung mga players. And kahit anong support na ibibigay sa&#x27;yo, basta passionate sa ginagawa mo, everything is very easy,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;We just hope na we just have to continue yung kanilang mga basketball tournaments here and locally and abroad. Especially mga young girls na nasa probinsya. We believe sila yung mga kailangan na mabigyan ng exposure. And then hopefully we could top them up para be part of the youth and the elite level,&quot; Amos added. </p><p>For Dela Rosa, she&#x27;s glad that her efforts and the team as a whole was noticed on the world stage. </p><p>&quot;Of course, as a basketball player naman, &#x27;yan talaga &#x27;yung parang dream ko na makapaglaro sa WNBA. And ayan, I&#x27;m just happy na narerecognize yung game ko and yung mga efforts ko parang mas nagbubunga na siya. And, ayan, happy lang na inisip yun ng ibang people for me,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;I think, yung pinaka-message is nothing is impossible. Like, kung gusto, may paraan naman. And, ayan lang, tulong-tulong lang siguro, and don&#x27;t give up lang sa kung anong dreams niyo,&quot; Dela Rosa added. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EyMJFHsyF9g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Gilas Pilipinas Women improved their world ranking after their campaign at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament last week.</p>

Gilas Pilipinas Women improved their world ranking after their campaign at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament last week.

Gilas Women move up to No. 30 in world rankings

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Gilas Women move up to No. 30 in world rankings

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 23, 2026 06:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Women's Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas Women

Kacey Dela Rosa

Julie Amos

Gilas Women

FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament

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