Gilas Women suffered an early setback in their FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament campaign as they endured a 115–66 rout against France.
France wasted little time asserting its dominance, racing out to a 19–4 run in the first quarter that immediately created separation between the two squads. Then, behind its aggressive offense and defensive pressure, France closed the first period with a 24–9 advantage. The early cushion proved decisive as the Philippines struggled to find its rhythm against the taller and more experienced European side.
France All Over Gilas Women
The 2024 Olympic silver medalist continued to dictate the tempo in the second quarter, capitalizing on its size advantage inside. By halftime, the gap had widened significantly, with the host scoring efficiently while limiting the Gilas Women’s offensive opportunities.
France scored 60 points in the paint, shot 59% from the field, and dominated the boards with 49 rebounds compared to the Philippines’ 25. The host’s lead ballooned to as much as 51 points in the fourth quarter, underscoring its complete control of the contest.
Dominique Malonga Leads Les Bleues in Balanced Attack
A decisive 11–0 run midway through the third quarter pushed the lead even further, stretching the score from 53–31 to 64–31 and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Dominique Malonga of Les Bleues had an efficient performance as she delivered a strong first-half showing, including an eight-point burst late in the opening quarter that helped France pull away early. She later energized the home crowd with a highlight dunk in the second period, finishing the game on an impressive 8-of-11 shooting from the field.
The 20-year-old tallied 21 points and 9 rebounds in under 19 minutes of play. Alexia Chery added 16 points and 4 rebounds, highlighted by a personal nine-point stretch in the third quarter, while Migna Touré chipped in 14 points and 3 assists.
Despite the lopsided result, Gilas Women had a couple of bright spots offensively, with Sumayah Sugapong leading the team with 13 points. Veteran Afril Bernardino contributed 12 points, while Kacey Dela Rosa added 11 points. Janine Pontejos also provided a spark with an eight-point scoring stretch in the second quarter as the Filipinas attempted to keep pace.
Tough Road Ahead for Gilas Women in Group A
With the opening setback, Gilas Women will look to regroup as they continue their qualifying campaign and make it out of Group A.
The Philippines is scheduled to face Germany on Friday, March 13, followed by matchups against Nigeria on Saturday, March 14; South Korea on Sunday, March 15; and Colombia on Tuesday, March 17.
