Gilas Pilipinas women begin FIBA World Cup bid
GILAS Pilipinas women begin their quest for a historic appearance in the FIBA Women’s World Cup, testing their mettle in the pre-qualifying tournament today at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda.
Led by seasoned anchor Jack Animam, the 40th-ranked Gilas will be up for a tall order against world No. 8 Brazil, No. 16 Hungary and No. 25 Senegal in Group C.
Host Rwanda leads Group D with Argentina, Great Britain and Lebanon to slug it out for the lone ticket at stake to the Qualifying Tournament proper next year.
The other simultaneous pre-qualifier is in Mexico featuring Korea, Mali, Czechia and Venezuela in Group A as well as the host, Montenegro, New Zealand and Mozambique in Group B for the other lone seat.
The two winners of the pre-qualifiers will join the top six teams from Asia, Americas and Europe plus the four teams from Africa in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament that serves as the gateway to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Under the guidance of program director and head coach Pat Aquino, Gilas takes on Brazil as its first test at 8 p.m. (Manila time) before facing Hungary at 11 p.m. Tuesday and Senegal at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Joining Ms. Animam in the Gilas crew are other veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Khate Castillo, Camille Nolasco and Stephanie Berberabe with young guns led by UAAP MVP Kacey dela Rosa, Ella Fajardo, Naomi Panganiban, Louna Ozar and Kristan Yumul.
Gilas, which came off a fourth-place finish in the Women’s Jones Cup and a championship in the inaugural Pinoyliga women’s tilt, has to finish in the Top Two to barge into the knockout semifinals.
Gilas is one of the Top 8 teams in the elite FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A. — John Bryan Ulanday
