Gilas Women bid farewell to their FIBA Women’s World Cup hopes after suffering their fourth straight loss in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, this time falling to South Korea 105–74 on Sunday.
Gilas Women Show Early Fight
After losing against France, Germany, and Nigeria, Gilas Women needed to win their games against South Korea and Colombia in order to make it to the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The Philippines showed early promise against South Korea, exchanging baskets with its Asian rival in the opening minutes. A three-pointer from veteran guard Janine Pontejos gave Gilas a slim 17–15 lead with under four minutes left in the first quarter.
Moments earlier, the Filipinas erased a nine-point deficit with an impressive 11–0 scoring run, fueled by Pontejos’ outside shooting.
However, South Korea quickly responded. A layup from Park Ji-hyun tied the game at 17–all, triggering a decisive momentum shift.
South Korea’s Long-Range Shooting Breaks Game Open
Best known for their three-point shooting, the Koreans made sure to show it against the Philippines.
Following a tie just past the halfway point of the opening period, South Korea unleashed a backbreaking 19–0 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and the start of the second.
The surge turned a narrow deficit into a commanding 34–17 advantage, with South Korea’s sharp shooting and forced turnovers crippling the Philippine offense.
South Korea continued to pour it on from beyond the arc, finishing the game with 19 three-pointers. Their hot shooting allowed them to build a 55–33 lead at halftime before stretching the margin to 80–50 heading into the final period.
South Korea’s lead ballooned to as many as 35 points in the fourth quarter before they eventually sealed the 31-point victory.
Kang Lee-seul spearheaded the offensive explosion with 24 points built on eight triples, while Lee Haeran and Choi Isaem added 15 markers each.
The Koreans also showcased impressive ball movement, assisting on 30 of their 40 made field goals while maintaining control for more than 37 minutes of the contest.
Bright Spots for Gilas Women
Despite the lopsided result, Kacey Dela Rosa delivered her best performance in international competition.
The former UAAP standout finished with 26 points on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting clip while grabbing 9 rebounds and swatting 3 blocks. She also scored 13 points in the fourth quarter in a late offensive push for Gilas.
Janine Pontejos added 13 points for the Philippines, but the team struggled offensively overall, committing 21 turnovers while recording only 16 assists.
Gilas Women in Search of a Win
Gilas Women dropped to 0–4 and are now eliminated from contention to play in the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany this September 2026.
The Philippines will attempt to close their campaign on a positive note when they face the winless Colombia in their final group-stage matchup.
