Camille Naredo

The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico on August 18, 2026. FIBA Media


Article (news)

FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787034101869viber_image_2026-08-18_14-18-40-220.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico on August 18, 2026. FIBA Media"/>The Gilas Pilipinas Women at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico on August 18, 2026. FIBA Media</div>MANILA – The Gilas Pilipinas Women and new head coach BT Toews are off to a tough start in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Gilas Women squandered a 15-point lead in the second half to lose to hosts Mexico, 61-58, to open their campaign. The Filipina cagers were in the driver&#x27;s seat in the first two quarters, with the lead growing by as many as 15 points, 35-20.  But the Philippines could not sustain the momentum in the next two periods, despite having a 57-47 lead with six minutes left in the final quarter.The host squad came alive in the third quarter, outscoring Gilas Women 21-11 in the payoff period to come away with the victory. With 21 seconds left in the game, veteran center Jack Animam had a chance to tie the game after she was fouled on the drive. However, the returning Animam only knocked down one of two charities. In the dying seconds, Afril Bernardino made a bad pass to U.S. NCAA Division I standout Vanessa De Jesus which resulted in an unsportsmanlike foul that ended the hopes of Gilas Women. De Jesus led the scoring for the Philippines with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds, while Animam pitched in 14 markers and grabbed six boards in her return to the national team.  With the result, Gilas Women face a must-win situation against World No. 7 Canada on Thursday.

The Gilas Pilipinas Women and new head coach BT Toews are off to a tough start in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Gilas Pilipinas Women and new head coach BT Toews are off to a tough start in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Gilas Women absorb tough loss to Mexico after second half collapse in FIBA Pre-OQT

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Gilas Women absorb tough loss to Mexico after second half collapse in FIBA Pre-OQT

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2026 02:22 PM PHT

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FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament

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