Gilas Women embrace #WeBelong mantra amid absence of Bernardino, Pontejos, Cabinbin, Tongco

Now more than ever, Gilas Pilipinas Women must live up to their mantra, #WeBelong, as the team faces a major setback with four key players unavailable for their upcoming international tournaments this July.

National team mainstays Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Andrea Tongco will not suit up for Gilas in the 2024 Jones Cup and the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup due to military obligations.

Bernardino and Tongco are enlisted with the Philippine Navy, while Cabinbin and Pontejos serve under the Philippine Army.

The news was confirmed during the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Trophy Tour Press Conference held Monday at Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things in the Mall of Asia Complex.

“Actually, we’re a bit undermanned because our veterans couldn’t go. Ate Afril, Ate Janine, Ate Chack, and Ate Andrea wouldn’t go with us because of personal matters,” shared Gilas winger Monique del Carmen.

“We’re a bit shorthanded but again, [our mantra is] #WeBelong.”

(C) Ariya Kurniawan

It will be a packed month for the national squad. Gilas will first compete in the Jones Cup from July 2 to 6 in Taiwan, followed by the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in China from July 13 to 20. The Asia Cup will serve as a qualifier for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The Philippines finds itself in Group B, alongside heavyweights Japan and Australia, and Lebanon. Only the top six teams from the eight-nation field will earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Despite being sidelined, Bernardino — one of the team’s top scorers — remains confident in her teammates’ ability to perform on the continental stage.

“I believe in them na makakaya nila, magagawa nila nang maayos ‘yung plays namin, kung ano yung pina-practice namin so I’m excited to see them play,” she said.

Gilas point guard Ella Fajardo echoed Del Carmen’s sentiments and expressed continued faith in the team, even with the absence of key veterans.

She also emphasized the moral support the quartet has provided in practices leading up to the tournaments.

“I do want to address that our veterans Ate Chack, Ate Afril, Ate Janine, Ate Andrea — it’s kind of saddening that they won’t be there, but they’ve been there every single practice to look over us, to make us smile every time,” said Fajardo.

“We’re here to show up and like Ate Monique said, #WeBelong, right? We’re so thankful, and as we have these two weeks coming up to prepare for the Jones Cup, it’s like we just wanna play. As an athlete, of course we want to practice, but also we want to play, and it’s very exciting.”

#WATCH: “#WeBelong” — the rallying cry of Gilas Pilipinas Women 🇵🇭 as they march into the #JonesCup and FIBA Women’s #AsiaCup this July without key players Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Andrea Tongco.

📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times… pic.twitter.com/TM5kinno5f

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 16, 2025