Pat Aquino steps down as Gilas Pilipinas Women head coach

The Patrick Aquino era has come to an end for Gilas Pilipinas Women, as the decorated head coach stepped down after more than a decade of service.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced the development on Saturday as the federation now begins the search for Aquino’s successor.

“The SBP thanks coach Patrick Aquino for everything that he has done for the program and for all his efforts in the development of women’s basketball in the country,” said SBP President Ricky Vargas in a statement.

“But now it’s time to move forward and do more for Gilas Pilipinas Women and the entire women’s basketball community in the country.”

Aquino has been at the Gilas Women helm since 2014, emerging as the architect behind the national team’s rise in regional and global scene.

In 2019, Aquino steered Gilas to a breakthrough Southeast Asian Games gold medal before repeating the feat in 2022 in Vietnam and 2025 in Thailand. He was also the tactician behind Gilas Women’s Division A promotion in FIBA Asia.

Recently, he led Gilas to a historic 74-59 win against Colombia in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, which saw the country seizing a victory in that level for the first time.

SBP has yet to name possible candidates to take over the job.

“We’re going to have a thorough process to determine who will lead Gilas Pilipinas Women moving forward. We don’t have clear prospects yet, but the search begins now,” said SBP Executive Director Erika Dy. 

“We’re not limiting ourselves to looking for local coaches, as our plan is really to land the best option possible. If that means hiring from abroad, that’s what we will do.”

Aquino, though, won’t be leaving the program completely as he will be helping program director Norman Black in talent identification and grassroots development.

Gilas Women will see action in August in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament and in September for the Asian Games in Japan.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News