New head coach BT Toews will begin leading Gilas Pilipinas Women into a packed international calendar as the national team gears up for major tournaments in August and September.
Toews was appointed as the Philippine women’s national basketball team head coach last May. He makes his debut with Gilas in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament from August 17 to 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Philippines will then shift its focus to the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan this September.
Speaking during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy introduced the coaching staff that will support Toews.
Far Eastern University women’s head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy, Gilas Women Youth head coach Sandy Arespacochaga, and rising coach Santi Sauler will serve as assistant coaches. Nico Francisco and Noel Zorilla will handle the team’s athletic training and strength and conditioning.
Two months into Toews’ tenure, Dy said the Canadian mentor has prioritized building chemistry within the squad.
“Ok naman. BT’s getting along with them. He’s working on the camaraderie of the team, yung pag-jell, pag-sync, and I noticed he spends time talking to the girls a lot even during days na walang training. Nag-i-invest talaga siya doon sa relationship,” said Dy.
She added that Toews has also made it a point to connect with the program’s overseas-based talent.
“He’s also really looking forward to connecting with our Fil-American players in the NCAA. Maya’t maya, magkikwento siya sa akin na nakausap niya on the phone or nag-Zoom meeting sila. We’re really looking forward to how he fits. Syempre first tournament pero we’re confident na we chose the right coach,” she added.
The Philippines has been drawn into a tough group alongside Canada, host Mexico, and Senegal in the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Only the champion of the eight-team competition will advance to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Despite the Asian Games being just Toews’ second tournament with the national team, Dy believes Gilas Women is capable of reaching the semifinals after placing fifth in the previous edition.
“Personally, my expectations is mag-Top Four, but we’ll see. I think last Asian Games nasa [fifth] tayo, but it depends din talaga kung sinong ipadala ng ibang teams. Naglabas ng pool ang Japan yesterday, and they’re not sending their A-team. Home court sila in Nagoya pero wala doon ang key players nila. Their national team coach is not even coaching them,” said Dy.
She also pointed to Toews’ competitive mindset as a key factor in the team’s aspirations.
“What I noticed about BT also is he has very high standards, so he’s definitely not going out there just to play well. He definitely wants to win the tournament, but realistically, I think ‘yung semis ang hinahabol niya,” she continued.
Toews, who spent 14 years coaching in Japan, has committed to focusing exclusively on the Gilas Women program during his first year to establish a strong foundation before accepting club coaching opportunities next year.
Before flying to Mexico, Gilas Women will hold a training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning August 9, before departing for Guadalajara on August 15.
Dy also praised Toews’ efforts to immerse himself in Filipino culture since arriving in the country.
“BT’s staying here. Medyo nakakatuwa siya kung sinusundan niyo siya sa social media… May mga araw na sumasakay siya ng jeep at MRT. Para sa foreigner to do that na bagong-bago lang dito, you can see that he’s really exerting an effort to embrace our culture, which I think is admirable. Ini-immerse niya talaga yung sarili niya dito at inaalam niya kung paano tayo mamuhay mga Pilipino,” she shared.
She added that while Toews plans to take on club coaching jobs beginning next year, he remains fully committed to the national team.
“This is his commitment at least for the first year of his coaching because he said he wants to lay the foundation very well but he did say that next year he will start taking jobs with club tournaments but at the same time making sure his contract will always allow him to coach the Philippine women’s national team whenever he’s called to do that.”
