National team coach Pat Aquino and the Gilas Pilipinas Women. –FRANCIS OCHOA
There won’t be any global platforms for Gilas Pilipinas Women to showcase its mettle in the coming months until halfway through next year, but national coach Pat Aquino believes the recent tournaments have lit a big enough fire under his charges to keep them hungry until the next opportunity.
“We want to keep things competitive all the time, so (the outlook is) every tournament is one step closer to what we want to achieve. I know the fire continues to burn in the girls,” Aquino told the Inquirer on Sunday.
The Nationals last saw action in August during the Pre-Qualifying tournament geared towards the Fiba Women’s World Cup that will be held in Berlin, Germany, in 2026.
Aquino and the crew led by program cornerstone Jack Danielle Animam dropped all of their three matches to finish dead last in Kigali, Rwanda, but not without taking home valuable lessons from the campaign, the program’s first-ever appearance on the world stage.
The Women’s program will have a chance to cash in on whatever learnings they had during that bid when they play in the Fiba Asia Cup in Shenzen, China, in July.
Aquino said a big chunk of his optimism is anchored on Animam’s continued progress, with the center again landing a contract in Europe. The latter, who has been the face of the Gilas program for over half a decade, has been plying her trade in Romania for FCC UAV Arad.
“Jack’s very competitive and highly spirited. I know she plays with the heart of Gilas whenever she is in the world,” Aquino said of the 26-year-old Bulacan native. “Every time she comes back, Jack gives us a plus, and with her at the helm, the future is bright for Gilas.”
In a previous interview, Animam reaffirmed her commitment to the program and Aquino, who was also her varsity coach at National University.
She declared that it won’t be long until Gilas gets to be a fixture in tournaments featuring the world’s finest, considering the program’s current talent and the youthful lot in the pipeline.
“I think we’re really gonna be competitive, and, for the years to come, it’s not impossible,” Animam said. “I mean, the World Cup or Olympics are just around the corner.
“We haven’t played in the World Cup, but we’re (getting) there,” she went on. “So it’s just really a matter of some help, you know.”
As things stand, Favor Onoh is the prime choice to back up Animam in the paint, but the University of the Philippines standout, who was once the UAAP Rookie of the Year, is still on the mend after hurting both her knees.
A 6-foot-4 versatile center who put up double-double averages during her first stint with the Fighting Maroons, Onoh is also going through the tedious process of naturalization.
“I hope she recovers from her injury and would be cleared to practice with us as soon as the time comes,” Aquino said.
The Gilas Women recently rose a notch in Fiba’s global leaderboard, rising to 39th overall. They also improved in the continental standings, as they are now seventh behind traditional powerhouses in the region China, Japan, and South Korea.
With the program entering another year of opportunities, Aquino only has one wish—and that is for his talents to be available come game time.
“I hope we could make the best team possible as there’s already an abundance of talented players here in the Philippines and abroad,” Aquino said. “I hope that with the upcoming year, the schedules align to make that wish happen.”