SBP set to hire foreign coach for Gilas Women

MANILA, Philippines – A foreign coach will soon call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas Women.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will wrap up its search for a new head coach who will replace longtime mentor Patrick Aquino this May, with executive director Erika Dy set to interview candidates from Europe, the United States, Australia, and East Asia. 

Dy said the reason behind hiring a foreign coach is to elevate the level of play as Gilas Women look to make a push for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

“It’s really an upgrade. Coach Pat [did] very well for the Gilas Women, if we would have gone to a Filipino coach, it’d still be him. Coach Pat and I talked, we felt that we needed to bring Gilas to another level. It’s been a while already since we’ve gone further than what we’ve achieved in Southeast Asia,” Dy told reporters on Monday, May 5.

Aquino guided Gilas Women for over a decade, a period marked by dominance in the region as the team topped three of the last four Southeast Asian Games, ruling the 2019 Philippines, 2021 Vietnam, and 2025 Thailand editions.

He was given the pink slip in March after Gilas Women took part in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in France.

The coaching switch comes a year before the Philippines hosts the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, where the top four teams will qualify for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. 

“Our goal is really LA 2028. We know that it’s a short turnover, just two years to prepare. If ever we don’t make it to LA, [the new coach] should already have a foundation to make it to Brisbane 2032. That’s our dream as Filipinos — to bring basketball back to the Olympics,” said Dy. 

Dy said a foreign coach also provides neutrality in the selection of players for the national team. 

“Sometimes it’s a bit difficult when the coach is Filipino because there are factions and the selection of players is questioned. At least, that is no longer a problem when the coach is a foreigner. Hopefully, we really get the best players that we have,” said Dy. 

Aquino, Dy said, will continue to work with the SBP identifying talents at the grassroots level. – Rappler.com