Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women to compete in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier

After a silver-medal finish at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 women’s team is set to compete next in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup Qualifier, which will be held this weekend in Singapore.

The team will be composed of Afril Bernardino, Mikka Cacho, Kacey dela Rosa, and Tantoy Ferrer.

The Philippines will face host country Singapore and Brazil in the pool stage and must finish in the top two to advance to the semifinals.

The other group consists of Hungary, Lithuania, and Egypt.

The country needs to place in the top three overall to secure a spot in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, where the Philippines last participated in 2018 in the women’s division.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, meanwhile, congratulated the Gilas 3x3 teams for their achievements during the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.

“To be the best Asian team in the Asia Cup is certainly a big honor,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Ricky Vargas in a release. “They competed with skill, but you could really feel the passion in their game. This is a big boost to SBP’s hopes of making it to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028,” said SBP president Ricky Vargas.

The women's team is composed of Cheska Apag, Bernardino, Cacho, and Dela Rosa.

On the other hand, the men’s team composed of Jerrick Ahanmisi, Sean Alter, Chris Koon, and Ralph Cu, reached the quarterfinals before falling to South Korea in that round.

“We’re looking at this event as a watershed moment for SBP’s 3x3 Program. The Women’s team has developed into a medal contender, and the Men’s team has shown potential in only their first tournament together,” said SBP Program Director Ryan Gregorio. “The key was the commitment from our partners in the professional and collegiate ranks in opening their doors to us, along with the support of our sponsors, who believe in the program and our hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

—JKC, GMA News