The future of Philippine women’s basketball wasted little time announcing its arrival.
With a roster packed with rising stars and familiar basketball bloodlines, Gilas Pilipinas Women U18 opened the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers with an emphatic 93-42 victory over Vietnam on Tuesday night at the STI-West Negros University Gym in Bacolod City.
While the senior national team continues to build on its recent international successes, the next wave of talent showed it may not be long before it is ready to carry the program forward.
After a competitive opening quarter, the Filipinas blew the game wide open behind a suffocating defensive display and a blistering 26-7 second-quarter run that immediately created separation.
What followed was a showcase of the depth, athleticism, and defensive intensity that has become a hallmark of the country’s youth program.
Gilas forced turnovers all night long, finishing with 28 steals that directly translated into 55 points off Vietnam’s miscues.
Rhiane Perez led the charge with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, while Zaydhen Rosano added 15 points and eight rebounds as the Filipinas controlled both ends of the floor.
The performance also highlighted the emergence of several players carrying familiar surnames.
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Statement made as the Gilas Pilipinas U-18 Women’s Team storms past Vietnam to open its FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers 2026 campaign in dominant fashion.#GilasPilipinas #GilasWomen #FIBA #SEABA pic.twitter.com/7dccM22Un6
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 2, 2026
US-trained Tiffany Reyes, daughter of former PBA player Jay-R Reyes, contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals in an efficient outing.
Meanwhile, Sophia Dignadice, daughter of PBA legend Yves Dignadice and already a member of the gold medal-winning Gilas Women squad in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and six steals.
The victory serves as another encouraging sign for a program that has steadily expanded its talent pipeline in recent years.
Although the Philippines has already secured its place in this year’s FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup after topping Division B in 2024, the SEABA qualifiers provide valuable international experience for a group expected to become future mainstays of the national team.
For one night at least, the next generation looked more than ready for the challenge.
Gilas Women U18 returns to action on Wednesday against Singapore as it continues its campaign on home soil.
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