The Philippines will host the 2027 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup at SM Seaside Cebu Arena. Along with the announcement came the news that Gilas Women has been drawn into Group B, where it will face Japan, China, and Lebanon.
Can Gilas Pilipinas Women advance to the next stage of the tournament and improve on its sixth-place finish at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup?
Explaining the 2027 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Format
During the elimination stage, each team will play every other team in its group once. After the single round-robin format, the top team from both Group A and Group B will automatically advance to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the second- and third-place teams from each group will face their crossover counterparts in the qualification round to determine the remaining two semifinal berths. The fourth-place team in each group will be eliminated from title contention but will still play in a classification game to determine the tournament’s seventh- and eighth-place finishers.
That being said, Gilas Pilipinas Women must aim to finish at least third in its group.
Did Gilas Women Escape the Group of Death?
Fortunately for the Philippines, its chances of advancing further in the tournament are relatively high since it was not drawn into Group A, which many consider the “Group of Death.”
Group A consists of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei.
On paper, defending champion Australia is the overwhelming favourite to secure an automatic semifinal berth, with New Zealand and South Korea expected to battle for the second and third spots. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei is projected to finish fourth in the group.
Group B Slightly Tougher Than It Looks
Although Gilas Women avoided Oceania powerhouses Australia and New Zealand, it still finds itself in a difficult Group B alongside 2025 runner-up Japan and bronze medalist China.
Currently, Lebanon is ranked No. 44 in the world, while Gilas Pilipinas Women sit at No. 30. During the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, the Philippines earned its lone victory of the tournament by defeating Lebanon, 73-70, in the group stage.
This time around, Gilas Women will be guided by new head coach BT Toews as they prepare for anothe FIBA Women’s Asia Cup campaign.
So, can Gilas Women advance to the next stage of the tournament? The answer is yes. However, that does not mean the Philippines should become complacent against Lebanon. In the end, world rankings mean very little once the game tips off. Needless to say, the Philippines must perform at an elite level—better than last time, ideally—if it hopes to challenge for the top spot in the group. While that is easier said than done, it remains well within the realm of possibility.
The 2027 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup will tip off on July 11 next year and run until July 18.
