FIBA ranking Nickname(s) Perlas Pilipinas Medals None Location Philippines Joined FIBA 1936 | Appearances 0 Appearances 0 | |
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National federation | ||
The women's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the country in women's FIBA tournaments.
Contents
- Perlas Pilipinas 10 2007 2015
- Perlas Pilipinas 20 2015present
- Current roster
- Past rosters
- Coaches
- References
Compared to the men's national team, the women's national team receives less reception from local basketball enthusiasts. Locally based player has no national league to play in after college which has a few leagues such as the WNCAA, Filoil Premier Cup, and Fr. Martin’s Cup. The women's national team has been playing at Level II at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women for the past few editions of the tournament. Again in contrast of their men counterpart who were often describe as powerhouses in the Southeast Asia region, the women's national team has been behind Thailand and Malaysia in the past few years.
Perlas Pilipinas 1.0 (2007-2015)
On 2007, Discovery Suites, a hotel brand, became the main sponsor of the women's national team. On 2008, Haydee Ong was appointed as head coach of the women's national team replacing Matthew "Fritz" Gaston, who guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and a silver medal finish at the 2007 SEABA Championship for Women. Under Ong, the team won the gold medal at the 2010 SEABA Championship for Women, the country's first medal at the said tournament. The team previously won silver during the 1995, 1997, and 2007 editions of the tournament.
The team pushed for the naturalization of 6'3" tall Chinese, Zheng Xiaojing, a move parallel to the naturalization of American-born Marcus Douthit for the men's national team. Zheng's naturalization process started with the filing of House Bill 02683 by Congressman Roberto Puno of Antipolo in August, about the same time as Douthit's. Head coach Ong lobbied the SBP and the Philippine Congress to hasten the naturalization process of Zheng so that she can join the national team for the 2011 editions of the FIBA Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games While Douthit was eventually naturalized, Zheng's naturalization was in limbo. On August 2014, team manager, Cynthia Tiu said that the team will focus on developing homegrown players than resort to naturalizing players. Tiu said that Zheng was disappointed but also said that a re-filing of her petition for naturalization cannot be done since Zheng is already married.
Perlas Pilipinas 2.0 (2015–present)
The SBP appointed Patrick Aquino as the new head coach of the national team. His first task will be to guide the national team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. has been made the new sponsor of the national team. SBP executive director Sonny Barrios pointed out the decision to make changes in the coaching staff of the women’s team was made after discussions among members of the search and screening committee, which is composed of several basketball stakeholders.
In a historic run, Perlas officially promoted in the Level 1 of the FIBA Asia Women's Championships that will held in 2017, after the win against India, 82-76.
Current roster
Philippines roster at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship:
Past rosters
1997 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 2nd among 3 teams Julie Amos, Mary Ellyn Caasi, Cristina Columna, Erlyn Destacamento, Joanna Franquelli, Carmina Maralit, Caroline Mindo, Bambi Tinasas, Emelyn Vega. (Coach:Ricardo Roces)
2011 Southeast Asian Games: finished 2nd among 5 teams John Molina Limengco, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Karen Lomogda, Melissa Jacob, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Bernadette Mercado, Analyn Almajan, Maria Lalaine Flormata. (Coach: Haydee Ong)
2010 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 1st among 5 teams Sylvia Marie Valencia, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Melissa Jacob, Bernadette Mercado, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Cassandra Tioseco, Ma. Ana Fatima Tolentino, Anna Katrina Pineda
Squad for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women: