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Tag: Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

  • Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas begins new era for Gilas Pilipinas Women after Pat Aquino exit 

    Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas begins new era for Gilas Pilipinas Women after Pat Aquino exit 

    A major reset is quietly unfolding inside the Gilas Pilipinas Women program.

     

    For years, the national team’s rise had been closely tied to the leadership of Pat Aquino — the longtime architect behind some of the country’s biggest breakthroughs in women’s basketball.

     

    Now, with Aquino officially out as head coach, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas appears determined to steer the program toward a completely new direction ahead of a packed international calendar that includes the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in August and the Asian Games in September.

     

    Speaking to reporters on Monday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, SBP Head of Communications Carlo Pamintuan revealed that the federation has already reached an agreement with Aquino’s replacement — though the official announcement is still pending the completion of contract formalities.

     

    “Two things: first, I want to officially say that Gilas Pilipinas Women has already agreed with its upcoming head coach. It’s a name that I cannot announce yet because we’re still finalizing the details of the contract,” Pamintuan said.

     

    “But a lot of the terms have already been agreed upon, and it will be announced, I think in the next two days after everything is signed. So we’re just waiting for the formality before we get to announce it.”

     

    What the SBP has already made clear, however, is the type of direction it wants to pursue.

    Instead of staying local, the federation intentionally leaned toward a foreign coach — a move heavily influenced by conversations with Tom Hovasse, the former Japan men’s and women’s national team mentor who famously guided Japan to a silver medal finish in the 2020 Summer Olympics women’s basketball tournament.

     

    According to Pamintuan, Hovasse was never officially considered for the role itself.

     

    Rather, the decorated coach served as a resource person during the search process as SBP attempted to study the blueprint behind Japan’s sustained success in women’s basketball.

     

    “In terms of Gilas Pilipinas Women, the SBP had a conversation with former Japan Women’s and Men’s head coach Tom Hovasse. But it was never in an interview capacity. He never applied for the job. He was not considered for the job, but his input as a reference was valued by the Federation,” Pamintuan shared.

     

    “We all know that Japan has a really strong women’s program. Currently, I believe they’re number three in Asia, including Australia, China, and Japan. And we want to emulate the same success as Japan. We’ve seen their results so that is why the search for Gilas Pilipinas Women Head Coach skewed towards that direction.” 

     

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    “So again, we really thank Coach Tom Hovasse for his input. We value everything that he shared with us. But the SBP wants to clarify that he did not apply for the job. He never interviewed for the job. We just were able to talk to him as a reference in terms of helping us find the best candidate we need in this specific time.”

     

    The changes within the program extend beyond the senior team.

     

    In another key development, Bacon Austria has been appointed program director for Gilas Women, adding another experienced Ateneo figure into the national team structure.

     

    Austria recently guided the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a breakthrough Final Four appearance in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament, finishing with an impressive 11-3 record.

    Meanwhile, veteran tactician Sandy Arespacochaga will take over the Gilas Youth Women program, replacing former head coach Julie Amos.

     

    For Arespacochaga, the appointment marks a return to familiar territory after previously serving within the national team setup during his earlier stint with Gilas Youth in 2019.

     

    “I think you have already kind of seen it, but Gilas Pilipinas Youth Women will be led by coach Sandy Arespacochaga. He has been running the practices with the team and they’re already deep in their preparations for their SEABA competitions this June,” Pamintuan said.

     

    The youth squad is currently preparing for the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers set from June 2 to 6 in Bacolod.

     

    Taken together, the moves signal something larger than a simple coaching change.

     

    After years of gradual progress under Aquino, SBP now appears intent on reshaping the entire Gilas Women structure — from the senior squad down to the youth pipeline — in hopes of building a program capable of consistently competing with Asia’s elite.

     

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  • Gilas Women eye new direction as SBP looks overseas for next coach

    Gilas Women eye new direction as SBP looks overseas for next coach

    A transition is underway for Gilas Pilipinas Women—and it may come with a shift in identity.

     

    For years, the program has been defined by continuity, guided by a steady hand that helped elevate Philippine women’s basketball onto the regional and continental stage. Now, as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas begins its search for a new head coach, the direction appears to be leaning outward, with foreign candidates taking center stage in the selection process.

     

    SBP Executive Director Erika Dy confirmed that the federation is actively exploring its options, with interviews already underway.

     

    “Right now we’re still interviewing candidates. So far lahat ng na-interview namin foreign coaches,” Dy said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

     

    The approach signals more than just a coaching change—it hints at a possible recalibration of the program, one that could introduce new systems, philosophies, and perspectives as Gilas looks to sustain its growth.

     

    For now, however, the details remain under wraps. “We will make the announcement when the time is right,” she added.

     

    Whoever takes over will inherit not just a team, but a legacy shaped by Pat Aquino, whose long tenure redefined what the national women’s program could achieve.

     

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    Over more than a decade, Aquino transformed Gilas Women into a consistent contender. Under his watch, the team captured three Southeast Asian Games gold medals and earned promotion to Level 1 in the FIBA Women’s Asia Championship—milestones that pushed Philippine women’s basketball into a higher tier of competition.

     

    He also guided the squad to the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France, marking a significant step onto the global stage.

     

    Now transitioning into a broader role focused on talent identification and grassroots development, Aquino leaves behind a foundation that the next coach must not only preserve, but build upon.

     

    The challenge, then, is twofold.

     

    First, to maintain the competitive standard that has been established. And second, to navigate the expectations that come with a program no longer seen as an underdog, but as a rising force in the region.

     

    With the search ongoing and a new voice on the horizon, Gilas Pilipinas Women finds itself at a crossroads—balancing continuity with change, and legacy with evolution.

     

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  • Bennie Boatwright-Justin Brownlee tandem looms as eligibility window opens for Gilas

    Bennie Boatwright-Justin Brownlee tandem looms as eligibility window opens for Gilas

    A potential frontcourt pairing is quietly gaining traction for Gilas Pilipinas—and it could reshape how the national team approaches its Asian Games title defense.

     

    The idea of Bennie Boatwright and Justin Brownlee sharing the floor isn’t just fan speculation anymore. It’s a scenario now being seriously considered, thanks to how eligibility rules for the 2026 Asian Games are currently being interpreted.

     

    At the center of the discussion is a technical detail that may work in the Philippines’ favor.

    Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Ericka Dy revealed that the initial reading of the tournament’s guidelines points to a relatively straightforward requirement—one that opens the door for more flexibility than usual.

     

    “Meron na tayong technical handbook. The rule is passport only with three-year residency,” said Dy on Monday.

     

    That clause, however, comes with nuance. While residency is required, it doesn’t necessarily mean continuous presence or even a passport issued three years prior—an interpretation that introduces what Dy herself described as a “gray area.”

     

    “Parang gray area daw yung three-year residency. It doesn’t mean na dapat three years na na-issue yung passport,” she explained.

     

    That distinction could prove crucial.After consulting with Abraham Tolentino, Dy said Boatwright’s prior stint in the Philippines may already count toward fulfilling the requirement. The former San Miguel import saw action during the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which could serve as proof of residency under the current interpretation.

     

    “It is still possible, as per [POC] Pres. Bambol (Tolentino), I spoke to him about it, na puwede yung kay Boatwright because two years ago, he played here. So ipapakita lang yun,’’ said Dy.

     

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    Boatwright first suited up for San Miguel Beermen on December 25, 2023, stepping in as a replacement import. Since then, he has remained on the radar not just as a PBA reinforcement, but as a potential long-term piece for the national team. His ongoing naturalization process only strengthens that possibility.

     

    If cleared, pairing him with Brownlee would give Gilas a rare combination of familiarity and versatility—two players capable of stretching defenses while anchoring the team’s offense. It’s a pairing that could significantly boost the Philippines’ chances of repeating its gold medal finish from the 2023 Asian Games.

     

    Still, nothing is set in stone.

     

    “Let’s see. Ang plano naman ni Coach Tim (Cone) is to use the full Gilas team,” said Dy, referring to Tim Cone.

     

    The immediate focus now shifts to roster planning. The Philippine Olympic Committee has set an April 30 deadline for the submission of initial lineups—listed “by name only”—giving the SBP a window to include a broader pool of candidates while final eligibility clarifications are being sorted out.

     

    Dy said the federation intends to submit a list of 15 to 20 players from the current Gilas pool, with additional names potentially included. Among those expected to be part of that group are Ange Kouame and Mike Phillips, adding further depth to an already intriguing roster mix.

     

    For now, the Boatwright-Brownlee tandem remains a possibility—one grounded not in hype, but in interpretation. And as the details continue to unfold, Gilas Pilipinas may find itself with more options than expected in its quest to stay on top of Asian basketball.

     

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  • New-look Gilas 3×3 begin preparations for Asia Cup in Singapore 

    New-look Gilas 3×3 begin preparations for Asia Cup in Singapore 

    The Gilas Pilipinas men’s 3×3 team is shaping up for a fresh run at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, leaning on a mix of youth, talent, and experience as they fine-tune their game ahead of the April 1-5 tournament at Singapore’s OCBC Arena.

     

     Practices over the past two months have been intense, with a special emphasis on integrating the current national team core with seasoned 3×3 veterans.

     

    Helping mold the new-look squad are well-known 3×3 campaigners Juan Gomez de Liaño, Joseph Eriobu, and Dominick Fajardo, who, along with Robbie Herndon, spent weeks scrimmaging with the Gilas quartet of Jerrick Ahanmisi, Ralph Cu, Chris Koon, and Sean Alter. 

     

    Their presence provided the younger players with valuable exposure to high-level 3×3 play, bridging the gap between domestic league experience and international competition.

     

    Eriobu, a two-time Southeast Asian Games 3×3 representative and a mainstay of Purefoods in the PBA 3×3, shared the floor with Fajardo, who has suited up for NLEX in the same league. GDL, meanwhile, brings international experience from the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup. 

     

    The trio was specifically tapped by coaches Kirk Collier, Patrick Fran, and JJ Espanola to accelerate the team’s preparation and bring a competitive edge to the upcoming Asia Cup.

     

    Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy expressed gratitude to both the PBA and UAAP for loaning their players, noting that the collaboration is crucial for building a strong national 3×3 program. 

     

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    “We thank the leadership of the PBA and UAAP for allowing their players to represent the country in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup,” Dy said. “We know it really takes a community to build a strong program, and we’re very happy to get the commitment of many individuals who showed up for our team’s practices to share their knowledge and experience.”

     

    NLEX and MPTC governor Ronald Dulatre also highlighted the team effort behind the preparations, particularly for Fajardo and Herndon’s participation. 

     

    “We at MPTC and NLEX have always envisioned helping the national team. And when the SBP presented the possibility of us being involved in the men’s 3×3 program, we did not hesitate,” he said. 

     

    “We heeded the call from SBP President and PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas to renew the commitment to 3×3 in terms of hopes of making it to the Olympics.”

     

    With the mix of youth and veteran leadership, the new-look Gilas 3×3 squad aims to make a strong impression in Singapore while laying the groundwork for the team’s long-term vision, including potential Olympic qualification.

     

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