Gilas Pilipinas Women are heading to the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup with a golden opportunity to make history.
A coveted spot for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and five World Cup Qualifiers tickets will be at stake from July 13 to 20 in Shenzhen, China.
Head coach Patrick Aquino has one goal in mind: to lead the Philippines to its first-ever World Cup appearance in women’s basketball.
And there’s good reason for Filipino fans to rally behind this team.
In the last FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in 2023, Gilas Women achieved their best finish ever — sixth place.
They came agonizingly close to a semifinal berth, holding a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter against New Zealand. However, they eventually fell short, 78-83, in the quarterfinals.
In the battle for fifth, they bowed to South Korea, 71-80.
As part of their preparation for this year’s tournament, the team participated in the recent William Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei.
However, the results were underwhelming — they won only one of five games, with their lone victory coming against Thailand. Only eight players from the Jones Cup roster have been retained for the Asia Cup campaign.
Several veterans, for various reasons, are unavailable for this year’s tournament.
Youthful Reinforcements with International Pedigree
(C) FIBA.basketball
Leading the team are the only two non-collegiate players on the roster: Jack Animam and Khate Castillo.
They’ll guide a youthful squad that includes six players aged 22 and below — two of whom are still in their teens.
Despite their age, the team is not short on international experience. Eight players have previously suited up in senior-level FIBA competitions, and half the roster played in the 2024 FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifying tournament in Rwanda.
Aquino is banking on the energy and potential of his young core, which includes four players with U.S. NCAA Division I experience.
At the helm is Vanessa de Jesus, the team’s primary floor general, who spent four years with the storied Duke University Blue Devils before transferring to the University of Notre Dame for the 2025 season.
Sumayah Sugapong, fresh off a stellar sophomore year with the University of California San Diego, averaged 14 points while starting all 36 games. She was named to the All-Big West First Team and was the Big West Championship’s Most Outstanding Player.
Also in the mix is Ella Fajardo, who started all 32 games for Iona and averaged 9.3 points while leading the team in assists.
Naomi Panganiban, meanwhile, earned Mountain West All-Freshman Team honors with a conference-leading 10.3 points per game among rookies for San Diego State University — the same program that produced NBA star Kawhi Leonard.
Anchored by Animam, Powered by Depth
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Back home, back-to-back UAAP MVP Kacey Dela Rosa headlines a strong local collegiate contingent.
The 6-foot Ateneo standout will form a formidable frontcourt duo with Animam. Dela Rosa was part of the UAAP Mythical Five alongside MVP runner-up Kent Pastrana of UST, UP’s dynamic scorer Louna Ozar, and Gilas veteran Angel Surada from National University.
Rounding out the squad are NU’s Finals MVP and Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagdulagan, and FEU’s hard-working forward Yvette Villanueva.
Despite the influx of young talent, the team’s foundation remains Animam.
The 6-foot-5 center remains Gilas Women’s focal point on both ends of the court. In the Jones Cup, she averaged 16.6 points and 13 rebounds.
More impressively, she recently led FCC Baschet UAV Arad to the semifinals of Romania’s top women’s league, averaging 19.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game.
Together with Dela Rosa, Animam can match up with most frontlines across Asia. Surada and Villanueva will provide additional interior muscle, but size remains a concern, as the Philippines will still be one of the smallest teams in the tournament.
What they may lack in height, Gilas hopes to make up for in backcourt depth and speed.
Aquino can deploy dual point guard sets, maximizing the talents of De Jesus, Panganiban, Fajardo, and Pagdulagan. Castillo — arguably the country’s top female shooter aside from Janine Pontejos — will be joined by Sugapong in stretching the floor from deep, creating room for Animam and Dela Rosa to operate in the post.
From the wings, Ozar and Pastrana are capable scorers who can attack the rim and disrupt opposing defenses — a role once shouldered by Afril Bernardino. Their ability to slash, create, and defend will be crucial to Gilas’ success.
Gilas Women have more than a fair shot at finishing in the top six and earning a historic World Cup berth.
If this youthful squad can find cohesion, they could become a legitimate threat to higher-ranked opponents — and surpass their previous best finish.
The goal is clear. The challenge is great.
But for Gilas Women, the dream of a World Cup appearance is within reach.
