Gilas Pilipinas Women. Handout Photo.

MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas Women will be competing outside FIBA Asia borders for the first time.

The Philippine women’s national basketball team will see action in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament and will be facing tough competition in Kigali, Rwanda.

“Moving up the rankings means we’ll have to learn how to step outside our comfort zone,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy of the No. 40 ranked Gilas Women who will be facing Brazil (8th), Hungary (16th), and Senegal (25th) in the Group Stage.

“Our Women’s Team has shown us they can be competitive in the region but there’s still a lot of work to be done to reach the next level. Joining competitions like this and going up against highly-ranked opponents will only make our players better and give our program a clear idea on what we need to do to get better."

Among those expected to lead the charge for the Patrick Aquino-coached squad as they clash against the world’s best are Afril Bernardino and Jack Animam.

"Known for her athleticism and relentlessness to win, Afril is one of the best players I have seen in the country. Her constant will to learn and determination to work harder than anybody else has made her who she is now,” said Aquino about one of his stars.

“When the Philippines need Jack Animan to make her presence felt in the paint, the 6-foot-5 player never disappoints,” a FIBA article wrote. “And this was the case when Patrick Aquino's team desperately needed to win a relegation battle at FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023, and Animan came up big, averaging 10 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Now with the Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Animam could play yet another role for the Filipinas.”

The Philippines will face off against Brazil on August 19 at 8 p.m. This will be followed with a showdown against Hungary on August 20 at 11 p.m. They cap off their group stage assignment against Senegal on August 22 at 5 p.m.

The other group features Rwanda, Great Britain, Argentina, and Lebanon with only one team among the eight moving forward to the World Cup qualifiers.