Gilas Women wrapped up their campaign in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament with a 74–59 win against Colombia. The win marked their first-ever victory against a non-Asian team in the history of the tournament.
Colombia dictated the pace early, building momentum behind aggressive drives and transition baskets. The South Americans managed to stretch their advantage to double digits late in the second quarter after a layup from Jenifer Muñoz pushed the lead to 36–26.
Although the Filipinas managed to trim the deficit slightly before the break, Colombia still carried a 40–33 advantage into halftime.
The Philippines struggled to find consistent offense during the opening half, while Colombia capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities to keep control of the game.
Third-Quarter Surge from Gilas Women Turns the Tide
Momentum dramatically shifted after halftime as Gilas Women came out with renewed intensity on both ends of the floor.
A jumper from Sumayah Sugapong sparked a pivotal run that ignited the Philippine comeback. Gilas Women erupted for an 18–4 scoring blitz that erased the deficit and flipped the game in their favor.
Team captain Afril Bernardino played a major role in this stretch, scoring all eight of her points—including two timely three-pointers—to help push Gilas ahead, 51–44, entering the final quarter.
The Philippines’ defense also tightened during the surge, forcing multiple turnovers while limiting Colombia to minimal scoring in the third period.
Kacey Dela Rosa Dominates for Gilas Women
Kacey Dela Rosa took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points to keep the Philippines comfortably ahead. Her back-to-back baskets midway through the period extended Gilas Women’s lead to double digits and effectively sealed the game.
Gilas outscored Colombia 23–12 in the final period and stretched the lead to as many as 17 points before closing out the 15-point victory.
The two-time UAAP MVP finished with a monster double-double of 25 points and 19 rebounds, while also adding 5 blocks.
Sugapong provided strong support with 21 points, along with 3 assists and 2 steals, while Stefanie Berberabe added 6 points and 4 assists to stabilize the offense.
The breakthrough win allowed the Philippines to finish the tournament with a 1–4 record after earlier defeats to France, Germany, Nigeria, and South Korea.
While the team’s FIBA World Cup Qualifiers stint proved challenging, their win over Colombia clear sign that the future is bright for Philippine women’s basketball.
