Philippines women's national basketball team

The women's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the country in women's FIBA tournaments.

Philippines

FIBA ranking	50 1 (8 December 2020)[1]
Joined FIBA	1936
FIBA zone	FIBA Asia
National federation	Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas
Coach	Patrick Aquino
Nickname(s)	Gilas Pilipinas
Olympic Games
Appearances	0
Medals	None
Women's World Cup
Appearances	0
Medals	None
Asian Championships for Women
Appearances	15
Medals	None
Home Away

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

Early history

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]

Perlas Pilipinas 1.0 (2007-2015)

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. On 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)

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)

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] Gilas Pilipinas Women will be headed by Patrick Aquino.

Fixtures and results

Competitions

FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 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 Total 0 0 0

Olympic Games 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 To be determined 2028 Total 0 0 0

FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Olympic Qualifying Tournament Record Year Position Pld W L Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament Year Position Pld W L 1976 Did not participate No Pre-OQT held 1980 1984 Did not qualify 1988 Did not participate 1992 2008 2012 2016 Did not qualify 2020 2019 4th 3 0 3 Total 0 0 0 3 0 3

FIBA Women's Asia Cup Asian Cup Record Year Division A Division B 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 Total 51 14 37 34 18 16

Asian Games 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[15] 2022 To be determined 2026 Total 3 0 3

SEABA Championship for Women 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 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 Total 1 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze 76 43 33 Other Tournaments Other Tournaments 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[16] 5 0 5

Team

Current roster

Philippines roster at the 28th Asian Women's Basketball Championship:[17]

Philippines women's National Basketball Team - 2019 FIBA Women's Asia Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club SG 0 Castillo, Ana Alicia Katrina 22 – October 5, 1996 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) De La Salle University F 3 Bernardino, Afril 23 – April 3, 1996 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University (Philippines) G 4 Daez, Maria Beatrice 26 – May 10, 1993 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) University of the Philippines G 6 Cabinbin, France Mae 27 – December 6, 1991 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) Lyceum of the Philippines University SG 7 Pontejos, Janine 26 – October 29, 1992 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Centro Escolar University SF 8 Nabalan, Ria Joy 22 – November 2, 1996 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) National University (Philippines) C 10 Animam, Jack Danielle 20 – November 27, 1998 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) National University (Philippines) PF 12 Chan, Eunique 23 – December 12, 1995 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) University of the East G 14 Tongco, Marizze Andrea 23 – October 18, 1995 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) National University (Philippines) C 18 Jose, Danica Therese 25 – March 18, 1994 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Ateneo de Manila University SF 21 Hayes, Kelli Casey 23 – November 22, 1995 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) University of California, Los Angeles SF 28 Miranda, Gemma 24 – February 28, 1995 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University (Philippines)	Head coach Patrick Henry Aquino Assistant coach(es) Jose Ramon Garcia Julie Amos Paul Raymond Du Legend (c) Team captain Age field is age on September 24, 2019

Past rosters

Philippines roster at the 41st William Jones Cup.[18]

Philippines women's National Basketball Team - 2019 William Jones Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club F 1 Arencia Dana' E Hawkins 25 – 27 November 1993 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Arizona State University G 3 Afril Bernardino 23 – 3 April 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) National University G 5 Camille Claro 23 – 13 June 1996 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) De La Salle University G 6 France Mae Cabinbin 27 – 6 December 1991 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) Lyceum of the Philippines University G 7 Janine Pontejos 24 – 29 October 1992 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) University of the East C 10 Jack Danielle Animam 18 – 27 November 1998 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) National University F 11 Mei-Lyn Bautista 22 – 26 May 1997 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) George Washington University C 17 Clare Castro 22 – 13 January 1997 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Far Eastern University F 18 Danica Therese Jose 25 – 18 March 1994 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Ateneo de Manila University F 21 Kelli Casey Hayes 23 – 22 November 1995 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) National University G 24 Elisha Gabriel Bade 22 – 22 December 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) California State University, Sacramento F 28 Gemma Miranda 24 – 28 February 1995 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) National University	Head coach Patrick Aquino Assistant coach(es) Julie Amos Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on July 24, 2019

Philippines roster at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship:[19]

Philippines women's national basketball team - 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 0 Borja, Chovi 29 – September 6, 1985 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Philippine Navy F 5 Gupilan, Shelley Anne 25 – August 10, 1990 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) F 8 Sambile, Camille 23 – April 24, 1992 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Far Eastern University G 9 Tongco, Marizze Andrea 19 – October 18, 1995 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) National University C 10 Animam, Jack Danielle 16 – November 27, 1998 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) National University G 12 Resultay, Cindy 24 – December 31, 1990 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Philippine Air Force G 15 Dy, Raiza Rose 24 – November 21, 1990 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) G 16 Miranda, Gemma 20 – February 28, 1995 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University F 17 Bernardino, Afril 19 – April 3, 1996 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University C 19 Lim, Allana May 26 – September 12, 1988 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Far Eastern University G 24 Roman, Sofia Isabella 21 – May 24, 1994 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Dartmouth College F 77 Arayi, Merenciana 29 – November 5, 1985 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Philippine Navy	Head Coach Patrick Henry Aquino Legend (c) Team captain Age field is age on August 29, 2015

1997 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 2nd among 3 teams Julie Amos, Mary Ellyn Caasi, Cristina Columna, Erlyn Destacamento, Joanna Franquelli, Carmina Maralit, Caroline Mindo, Bambi Tinasas, Emelyn Vega. (Coach:Ricardo Roces)[20]

2011 Southeast Asian Games: finished 2nd among 5 teams John Molina Limengco, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Karen Lomogda, Melissa Jacob, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Bernadette Mercado, Analyn Almajan, Maria Lalaine Flormata. (Coach: Haydee Ong)

2010 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 1st among 5 teams Sylvia Marie Valencia, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Melissa Jacob, Bernadette Mercado, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Cassandra Tioseco, Ma. Ana Fatima Tolentino, Anna Katrina Pineda

Squad for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women:[21]

Philippines women's national basketball team - 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 4 Galicia, Mary Joy 24 – September 15, 1989 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) G 5 Grajales, Joan 33 – November 23, 1979 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) F 6 Borja, Chovi 27 – November 6, 1985 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) F 7 Arayi, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha 27 – November 5, 1985 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) C 8 Flormata, Ma. Lalaine 26 – April 8, 1987 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) F 9 Jacob, Melissa 29 – March 1, 1984 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) G 10 Mercado, Bernadette 27 – January 28, 1986 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) G 11 Bernardo, Fria 22 – February 22, 1991 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) F 12 Resultay, Cindy 22 – December 31, 1990 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) C 13 Tioseco, Cassandra Noel 26 – December 12, 1986 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) C 14 Almazan, Analyn 25 – October 7, 1988 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) F 15 Tiu, Denise Patricia 21 – May 5, 1990 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Head coach Haydee Ong Legend (C) Team captain from field describes last club before the tournament

Coaches

• Ricardo Roces (c. 1997)
• Matthew "Fritz" Gatson (2007)
• Haydee Ong (2008–2014)
• Patrick Aquino (2015–present)

References

1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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. The Philippine Star. 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. 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.
16. Li, Matthew (April 30, 2019). "Patrick Aquino faces good problem as Perlas Pilipinas has stacked pool". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
17. "Philippines Roster at the 28th FIBA Women's Asia Cup". Retrieved September 22, 2019.
18. {{cite web|url=http://jonescup.meetagile.com/team.html?sn=1%7Caccess-date=22 September 2019]]
19. Team Philippines – 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship
20. Mallari, Riera (August 15, 1997). "Victory in defeat for RP cagebelles". E & S Philippine Journal. 1 (XXII): 4.
21. 2013 squad

External links

• FIBA Profile