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Tag: FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series

  • Afril Bernardino, Kacey dela Rosa headline Gilas’ new pool for 3×3 push

    Afril Bernardino, Kacey dela Rosa headline Gilas’ new pool for 3×3 push

    As Gilas Pilipinas Women gears up for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw, the focus has shifted from short-term rosters to long-term sustainability. At the center of that vision stand two players from different generations, bound by the same responsibility: carry the standard and raise it even higher.

     

    Afril Bernardino and Kacey Dela Rosa headline a 13-player pool tasked to represent the country on the global stage from June 1-7, a mix that reflects both experience and evolution in Philippine women’s basketball.

     

    For coach Anton Altamirano, the group is more than just a selection—it’s a statement of direction.

    Joining Bernardino and Dela Rosa in the pool are Camille Clarin, Mikka Cacho, Tantoy Ferrer, Kaye Pingol, Cheska Apag, Gabi Bade, Camille Malagar, Amyah Espanol, Jam Meniano, Louna Ozar, and Elizabeth Means.

     

    Recent results have only strengthened belief in the program’s trajectory. The quartet of Bernardino, Dela Rosa, Cacho, and Apag turned heads at the FIBA Women’s 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore, finishing second in a breakthrough run. Shortly after, with Ferrer stepping in for Apag, the team secured a World Cup berth through the qualifiers—another milestone in quick succession.

     

    What makes this stretch more significant is how it has redefined roles. Bernardino, long recognized as a pillar in 5×5, has seamlessly transitioned into the faster, more physical demands of 3×3. Altamirano credited SBP 3×3 director Ryan Gregorio for making that shift possible, calling Bernardino the face of the country’s women’s basketball movement. Her selection to the Asia Cup mythical three only reinforced her impact in the new format.

     

    Alongside her is Dela Rosa, coming off an FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifiers Women’s Team nod, a rising force whose versatility is reshaping expectations for frontcourt players. At just 22, the two-time UAAP MVP has evolved into a complete weapon—equally comfortable initiating plays as she is finishing them.

     

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    Altamirano pointed out how rare it is to find a player of her size with the ability to handle, attack, and defend across multiple positions—qualities that make her an ideal fit for the unpredictability of 3×3.

     

    Together, they form the spine of a team that is no longer content with simply competing. It’s chasing something bigger.

     

    Altamirano believes the current momentum places Gilas in a strong position to contend for a spot in the expanded 12-team field for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

     

    “Five slots, one for Asia, will be allocated based on federation ranking points, one will be for the host and the last six will be picked from four Olympic qualifying tournaments (from March to June, 2028),” said Altamirano. “Our participation in the World Cup will enhance our ranking points.”

    That pursuit, however, leaves little room for downtime.

     

    Even before stepping onto the World Cup stage, Gilas is set for a packed international calendar—competing in the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, multiple stops in the FIBA 3×3 World Series across Chengdu, Manila, and Shanghai, as well as the Asia Pacific U21 and U23 Nations League.

    The grind doesn’t stop there. “We’ll also play in the Asian Games so the calendar will keep us busy the whole year,” said Altamirano.

     

    And that may be exactly what this team needs. Because for Gilas, the journey to Warsaw isn’t the destination—it’s part of a much bigger climb.

     

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  • Manila to host second leg of FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series in May 

    Manila to host second leg of FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series in May 

    The Philippines’ growing presence in the fast-rising world of 3×3 basketball will take center stage in 2026 as Manila prepares to host a landmark stop in the global women’s circuit.

     

    For the first time ever, the Philippine capital will stage a leg of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series, with elite international teams set to compete on May 7–8 in what organizers view as a major step in strengthening the country’s footprint in the discipline.

     

    The Manila stop will serve as the second leg of the season, positioned early in the calendar as the competition builds momentum across Asia leading into the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final.

     

    The season officially opens in Chengdu on May 1–2 before shifting to Manila, highlighting the region’s increasing importance in the global expansion of 3×3 basketball.

     

    Representing the host nation once again will be Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3, which has steadily gained international exposure after participating in the Women’s Series over the past two seasons. The program’s continued presence reflects the long-term direction set by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to develop both grassroots and elite-level 3×3 competition.

     

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    Last season, the Philippine pool featured Afril Bernardino, Mikka Cacho, Tantoy Ferrer, Sam Harada, Kaye Pingol, and Hazelle Yam, with the squad finishing 18th out of 60 teams—a result that underscored both progress and the gap still to close against established international programs.

     

    Beyond competition, hosting duties also place Manila in a strategic role as the sport continues to evolve into one of basketball’s fastest-growing formats. The quick pace, condensed rosters, and urban-style presentation of 3×3 have made it increasingly attractive for emerging basketball markets.

     

    Following the Manila leg, the tour resumes its multi-continent journey with stops across Europe and Asia, including Vienna, Orléans, Amsterdam, Ulaanbaatar, Marseille, Baku, and Batam before returning to Asia with additional events in Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Takasaki.

     

    The 2026 campaign will culminate in Shanghai on September 5–6, where the season’s top-performing teams will compete for the championship.

     

    For the Philippines, hosting the event is more than just a scheduling milestone—it signals the country’s ambition to become a consistent destination for elite international basketball while giving its homegrown players a rare opportunity to compete against world-class talent on familiar ground.

     

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