Gilas Pilipinas Women’s campaign in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament ended on a sour note as they suffered a heavy 87-62 defeat against Senegal at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on Thursday evening (Manila time).
Already eliminated from contention following Senegal’s victory over Brazil the previous day, the Philippines was unable to end the group phase on a high note.
Jack Animam delivered a solid performance, recording 15 points, six rebounds, and two steals, but it wasn’t enough to propel Gilas to an upset victory.
Naomi Panganiban, who had struggled with her shooting throughout the tournament, showed flashes of her potential by scoring 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
Janine Pontejos contributed 12 points, including three three-pointers, but the team struggled to find consistent offense and maintain momentum.
Senegal, who closed out the group phase undefeated, effectively mirrored Hungary’s strategy in their win over the Philippines.
They surged ahead with a dominant 23-12 run in the second quarter, establishing a commanding 45-32 halftime lead.
This momentum shift, fueled by a 43-19 run after an early 13-2 Gilas rally, set the tone for the remainder of the game.
The world No. 25 Senegalese squad continued to dominate, leading by as many as 28 points, 79-51, with just under five minutes left to play.
Ndioma Kane led the charge for Senegal, exploiting the Philippines’ defensive lapses with a game-high 21 points on an impressive 9-of-11 shooting performance in just 19 minutes of action.
Khadidiatou Sarr also made a significant impact, tallying 12 points and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, in just 14 minutes.
The Philippines started their tournament with a narrow 74-77 loss to Brazil but struggled in subsequent games. They fell to Hungary 60-97 before their final defeat to Senegal.
Despite a promising start in some games, inconsistency on both ends of the floor proved costly for the Gilas Women.
With this loss, Gilas Pilipinas Women must now focus on the FIBA Asia Cup as their next opportunity to qualify for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026.
