Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in China. Photo from FIBA Basketball.MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas women defied the odds anew as they maintained their place in Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
With their placement, as well as a slot in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at stake, the Nationals averted a 17-point collapse, showing composure on both ends of the floor in the end game to defeat Lebanon, 73-70.
READ: Gilas Women escape Lebanon in thriller, book World Cup Qualifiers ticket
"I'm just so proud of the girls, just so happy for the girls. Happy for the federation, happy for women's basketball in the Philippines," said Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino as they moved to third place in Group B on Wednesday.
This victory assured the Nationals a spot in the play-in on Friday against Group A’s second-best team, and this means that their hopes of advancing into the semifinals are still alive.
"I think this is a really good game for us. It's a huge team effort. I'm just proud of everybody from the bench to the starters, everybody, to the staff,” said Vanessa de Jesus, who scattered 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
“At the end of the day it really showed our puso," de Jesus said.
After a rude welcome from Australia in their first assignment in the Asia Cup, Gilas nearly shocked World No.9 Japan in their previous game as they almost came back from down 22 via an 18-to-nothing run in the fourth period, before just falling short, 82-85.
But while these performances are considered as concrete signs of progress, Aquino pointed out that this is also a testament to a decade’s worth of hardship for the Philippines women’s hoops.
"[It] represents everything we've been working hard for the last 10 years or so,” he said of his team which is even missing the likes of Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Andrea Tongco due to military duties. “We're glad to be competing and not just staying here in Division A.”
The Philippines will be hosting the 2027 edition of the same tourney in 2027, and Gilas will still be among the upper half of women’s Asian Basketball as they secured at least a Top 6 finish this time around.
Even with this, however, Aquino knows that there is still a lot of work to be done if they want to continue their upward trend.
“We still have to improve more, and we hope we level up again soon," he said.