Gilas Pilipinas Women departed for Lyon, France on Sunday evening as the Philippines prepares to compete in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.
The Filipinas who boarded from Manila are Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Kacey dela Rosa, Kent Pastrana, Ann Pingol, Trina Guytingco, Angel Surada, Stefanie Berberabe, and Louna Ozar.
The Philippine delegation is led by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy and head coach Patrick Aquino.
(C) SBP
Flying directly to France from the United States are Sumayah Sugapong and teenagers Sophia Dignadice and Saray Heyn.
The trip also serves as a reunion of sorts for several members of the squad, as Bernardino, Pontejos, Surada, Ozar, Dignadice, Pingol, Guytingco, Dela Rosa, and Heyn were part of the Philippine team that won gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
(C) POC Pool
Sugapong, who plays for Division I school Arizona, last suited up for Gilas during the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025, where she averaged 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in five games.
The tournament will be a tough test for Gilas as it faces world No. 3 France on Thursday at 3:30 a.m. (Manila time), No. 12 Germany on Friday at 12 a.m., No. 8 Nigeria on Saturday at 9 p.m., No. 15 Korea on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and No. 19 Colombia on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
The Philippines is currently ranked No. 39 in the world.
Only two teams will advance from Tournament D to the World Cup, which will take place from September 4 to 13 in Berlin.
Germany, as host, and Nigeria, as the winner of the 2025 Afrobasket, have already secured their spots in the global meet.
