Philippines women's national basketball team

(Redirected from Perlas Pilipinas)

The Philippines women's national basketball team is managed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Philippines
FIBA ranking39 Increase 1 (August 26, 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA1936
FIBA zoneFIBA Asia
National federationSBP
CoachPatrick Aquino
Nickname(s)Gilas Pilipinas
Asia Cup
Appearances17

Compared to the men's national team, the women's national team receives less reception from local basketball enthusiasts. Locally based players has no national league to play in after college which has a few leagues such as the WNCAA, Filoil Premier Cup, and Fr. Martin's Cup. The women's national team has been playing at Level II at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women for the past few editions of the tournament. Again in contrast of their men counterpart who were often describe as powerhouses in the Southeast Asia region, the women's national team has been behind Thailand and Malaysia in the past few years.[2]

History

edit

Early history

edit
 
Filipino women in Dagupan playing basketball as depicted in a 1910 postcard.

Women's basketball in the Philippines dates back as early as the 1910s. Basketball was first introduced to the Philippine public school system by the Americans as a women's sort in 1910 and was played in Interscholastic meets in 1911 until 1913. The sport used by Americans to promote good health and motherhood and citizenry grew in popularity among women. Women's basketball met opposition from conservative groups, particularly the Catholic Church who view bloomers worn by women basketball players as inappropriate. By the time skirts were allowed to be worn above bloomers as a compromise, women's basketball is already in the decline and is only played in provincial and local interscholastic meets. Indoor softball and as well as volleyball became the more preferred sport for Filipino women.[3]

SBP era (2007–present)

edit

Perlas Pilipinas 1.0 (2007–2015)

edit

On 2007, Discovery Suites, a hotel brand, became the main sponsor of the women's national team.[4] On 2008, Haydee Ong was appointed as head coach of the women's national team[5] replacing Matthew "Fritz" Gaston, who guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and a silver medal finish at the 2007 SEABA Championship for Women.[6] Under Ong, the team won the gold medal at the 2010 SEABA Championship for Women, the country's first medal at the said tournament. The team previously won silver during the 1995, 1997, and 2007 editions of the tournament.

The team pushed for the naturalization of 6'3" tall Chinese, Zheng Xiaojing, a move parallel to the naturalization of American-born Marcus Douthit for the men's national team. Zheng's naturalization process started with the filing of House Bill 02683 by Congressman Roberto Puno of Antipolo in August, about the same time as Douthit's. Head coach Ong lobbied the SBP and the Philippine Congress to hasten the naturalization process of Zheng so that she can join the national team for the 2011 editions of the FIBA Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games[7] While Douthit was eventually naturalized, Zheng's naturalization was in limbo. In August 2014, team manager, Cynthia Tiu said that the team will focus on developing homegrown players than resort to naturalizing players. Tiu said that Zheng was disappointed but also said that a re-filing of her petition for naturalization cannot be done since Zheng is already married.[8]

Perlas Pilipinas 2.0 (2015–2019)

edit

The SBP appointed Patrick Aquino as the new head coach of the national team. His first task will be to guide the national team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. has been made the new sponsor of the national team.[9][10] SBP executive director Sonny Barrios pointed out the decision to make changes in the coaching staff of the women's team was made after discussions among members of the search and screening committee, which is composed of several basketball stakeholders.[11]

In a historic run, Perlas officially promoted in the Level 1 of the FIBA Asia Women's Championships that will held in 2017, after the win against India, 82–76.[12]

Gilas Pilipinas Women (2019–present)

edit

In May 2019, the SBP announced that the Gilas Pilipinas name would be used across all its sporting programs for the men's, men's youth (men's under-19 and men's under-17), men's 3x3 and women's teams.[13][14] Aquino assumed responsibility over the Gilas Pilipinas Women program.

Gilas Women attained their best finish at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in the 2023 edition. They avoided the relegation playoff for the very first time by at least one group stage game at the expense of Chinese Taipei – also their first group stage win since their promotion to the first division in 2015.[15][16] They finished sixth overall in a tournament of eight teams.[17]

In August 2024, they would take part in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda, their first ever non-FIBA Asia competition.[18][19]

Fixtures and results

edit
2024 results
Date Opponent Result Score Venue Competition
6 July   Chinese Taipei White L 60–73   Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Taiwan 2024 William Jones Cup
7 July   Malaysia W 74–63   Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Taiwan 2024 William Jones Cup
8 July   Japan Universiade L 83–85   Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Taiwan 2024 William Jones Cup
9 July   Thailand W 68–58   Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Taiwan 2024 William Jones Cup
10 July   Chinese Taipei Blue L 66–82   Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Taiwan 2024 William Jones Cup
19 August   Brazil L 74–77   BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament
20 August   Hungary L 60–97   BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament
22 August   Senegal L 62–87   BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament


Medal count

edit
Event Editions 1st edition Total Notes
      Tot.
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 0 0 0 0 0 0
Olympic Games 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIBA Women's Asia Cup 16 1965 0 0 0 0
Asian Games 2 1998 0 0 0 0
SEABA Championship for Women 7 1995 2 2 2 6
Southeast Asian Games 18 1981 2 7 5 14

Competitions

edit

World Cup

edit
The Philippines' FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Record
Year Position Pld W L
  1953 did not participate
  1957
  1959
  1964
  1967 did not qualify
  1971 did not participate
  1975
  1979 did not qualify
  1983
  1986 did not participate
  1990
  1994 did not qualify
  1998 did not participate
  2002
  2006 Suspended
  2010 did not qualify
  2014
  2018
  2022
  2026 to be determined
Total 0 0 0

Olympic Games

edit
The Philippines' Olympic Games Record
Year Position Pld W L
  1976 did not participate
  1980 Boycotted
  1984 did not qualify
  1988 did not participate
  1992
  1996 did not qualify
  2000 did not participate
  2004 did not qualify
  2008 did not participate
  2012
  2016 did not qualify
  2020
  2024
  2028 To be determined
  2032
Total 0 0 0

Asia Cup

edit
The Philippines' Asian Cup Record
Year Division A Division B
Year Position Pld W L Position Pld w l
  1965 4th place 8 2 6 No Division B / Level II
  1968 6th place 7 2 5
  1970 did not participate
  1972
  1974
  1976 6th place 6 1 5
  1978 8th place 8 2 6
  1980 did not participate
  1982 8th place 4 1 3
  1984 4th place 8 4 4
  1986 did not participate
  1988
  1990 did not participate
  1992 No Division B / Level II
  1994 10th place Level II 5th place 5 2 3
  1995 9th place 3rd place 5 3 2
  1997 did not participate did not participate
  1999
  2001
  2004 8th place Level II 3rd place 3 1 2
  2005 11th place 6th place 5 1 4
  2007 did not participate did not participate
  2009 10th place Level II 4th place 5 3 2
  2011 did not participate did not participate
  2013 10th place Level II 4th place 5 3 2
  2015 7th place 1st place 6 5 1
  2017 7th place 6 1 5 Division A
  2019 7th place 4 1 3
  2021 7th place 4 1 3
  2023 6th place 5 1 4
  2025 Qualified
Total 60 16 44 34 18 16

Asian Games

edit
The Philippines' Asian Games Record
Year Position Pld W L
  1974 did not participate
  1978
  1982
  1986
  1990
  1994
  1998 6th place 3 0 3
  2002 did not participate
  2006 Suspended
  2010 did not participate
  2014
  2018[20]
  2022 5th place 4 2 2
  2026 To be determined
Total 7 2 5

SEABA Championship

edit
The Philippines' Southeast Asian Championship Record
Year Position Pld W L
  1995 2nd place
  1997 2nd place
  1999 3rd place
  2002 3rd place
  2004 did not participate
  2007 2nd place 6 5 1
  2010 1st place 5 5 0
  2014 did not participate
  2016 1st place 6 6 0
Total 2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze 16–1 (incomplete)

Southeast Asian Games

edit
The Philippines' Southeast Asian Games Record
Year Position Pld W L
  1977 did not enter
  1979 did not enter
  1981 2nd place 5 3 2
  1983 2nd place 4 3 1
  1985 2nd place 3 2 1
  1987 3rd place 5 3 2
  1989 4th place 4 1 3
  1991 4th place 6 3 3
  1993 5th place 4 0 4
  1995 2nd place 6 4 2
  1997 4th place 5 2 3
  1999 Not held
  2001 3rd place 4 2 2
  2003 3rd place 5 3 2
  2005 Suspended
  2007 3rd place 3 1 2
  2009 Not held
  2011 2nd place 4 3 1
  2013 2nd place 4 3 1
  2015 4th place 5 3 2
  2017 4th place 6 4 2
  2019 1st place 3 3 0
  2021 1st place 5 4 1
  2023 2nd place 6 5 1
Total 2 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze 87 52 35

Other tournaments

edit
The Philippines' Other tournaments Record
Year Position Pld W L
  2011 Discovery Women's Basketball Invitational 1st 4 4 0
  2013 Discovery Women's Basketball Invitational 1st 4 4 0
  2015 Discovery Women's Basketball Invitational 1st 4 4 0
  2019 William Jones Cup 6th place[21] 5 0 5
  2023 William Jones Cup 5th place 5 1 4
  2024 William Jones Cup 4th place 5 2 3

Team

edit

Current roster

edit

Philippines roster at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament – Rwanda.[22][23]

Philippines women's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
G 0 Khate Castillo 27 – (1996-10-05)October 5, 1996 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
G 2 Naomi Panganiban 18 – (2006-06-05)June 5, 2006 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) San Diego State Aztecs  
F 3 Afril Bernardino 28 – (1996-04-03)April 3, 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G 4 Camille Nolasco 19 – (2005-02-26)February 26, 2005 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) UP Lady Maroons  
G 5 Ella Fajardo 21 – (2003-03-15)March 15, 2003 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
G 7 Janine Pontejos 31 – (1992-10-29)October 29, 1992 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
G 9 Louna Ozar 20 – (2004-05-09)May 9, 2004 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) UP Lady Maroons  
C 10 Jack Animam 25 – (1998-11-27)November 27, 1998 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Ringwood Hawks  
G 11 Stefanie Berberabe 24 – (2000-07-13)July 13, 2000 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) NU Bulldogs  
C 19 Kacey Dela Rosa 20 – (2004-03-01)March 1, 2004 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Ateneo Blue Eagles  
G 24 Kristan Yumul 19 – (2005-06-24)June 24, 2005 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Westmont Warriors  
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Jose Ramon Garcia
  •   Julie Amos
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age describes age
    on 26 June 2023

Past rosters

edit
  • Note: Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships only.

Coaches

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Verora, Levi (March 25, 2014). "Only for men? When will women's hoops ring the bell in PH?". Rappler. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  3. ^ Antolihao, Lou (2015). "Spheroid of Influence: Sports, Colonization, Modernity – Ballers in Bloomers:Sports, Gender, Participation". Playing with the Big Boys: Basketball, American Imperialism, and Subaltern Discourse in the Philippines (Illustrated ed.). University of Nebraska Pres. ISBN 978-0803278516. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  4. ^ De Leon, Job (April 11, 2014). "A league of their own: Discovery-Perlas and women's basketball in the Philippines". GMA News. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Velasco, Bill (March 3, 2008). "No longer the poor sisters". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  6. ^ Olivares, Rick (February 12, 2017). "SBP at 10". Bleacher's Brew. BusinessMirror. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  7. ^ Leyba, Olmin (April 21, 2011). "Women's cage team pushes for own naturalized player". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. ^ Ramos, Josef (August 14, 2013). "Women's basketball coach prefers homegrown talent to naturalized players". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  9. ^ Terrado, Reuben (January 22, 2015). "NU coach Patrick Aquino to call shots for PH women's basketball team in SEA Games". Sport Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  10. ^ Terrado, Reuben (February 12, 2015). "Perlas Pilipinas manager cries foul over SBP decision to disband national women's cage team, call for new tryouts". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  11. ^ Terrado, Reuben (February 14, 2015). "SBP's Barrios says revamp of women's cage program, Perlas disbandment went through proper process". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  12. ^ Terrado, Reuben; Ramos, Gerry (September 7, 2015). "Perlas Pilipinas finds SEA Games letdown a major motivation for Fiba-Asia success". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Leyba, Olmin (May 9, 2019). "It's all Gilas Pilipinas for SBP programs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "SBP restructures, unveils new Gilas Pilipinas logo". ESPN5. May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Dalupang, Denison Rey A. (July 1, 2023). "Pat Aquino sees big impact of Fiba Asia feat on Gilas Women program". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Gilas Women avoid relegation after breakthrough win vs. Chinese Taipei in FIBA Asia Cup". CNN Philippines. June 28, 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Gilas Women finish sixth overall in FIBA Asia Cup". GMA News. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  18. ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (August 22, 2024). "Gilas women fall to Senegalese, end bid in FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Gilas Women set to compete outside FIBA Asia borders for first time in history". The Manila Times. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Ventura, Sid (June 7, 2018). "Patrick Aquino wants his women's team to show their worth in FIBA 3x3 World Cup". ESPN. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  21. ^ Li, Matthew (April 30, 2019). "Patrick Aquino faces good problem as Perlas Pilipinas has stacked pool". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  22. ^ Terrado, Reuben (August 16, 2024). "Gilas Women Rwanda-bound to compete in World Cup pre-qualifiers". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  23. ^ "Philippines - Roster". FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament Kigali, Rwanda. FIBA. August 18, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  24. ^ 2013 squad
  25. ^ |tab=roster Team Philippines – 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship
  26. ^ Mallari, Riera (August 15, 1997). "Victory in defeat for RP cagebelles". E & S Philippine Journal. 1 (XXII): 4.
edit