In an unprecedented move, the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3 Team will see action in the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series as a result of a historic partnership between the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Uratex Dream to bolster the country’s federation ranking.
“Federation ranking is almost everything in the 3×3 universe. The more high-level events you join, the more points you earn,” said SBP executive director Erika Dy.
“This partnership allows us to join up to 10 stops of the Women’s Series which could improve our ranking by more than 10 spots by the end of the season.”
Unlike in the full court version, 3×3 national teams can qualify to the World Cup and to the Olympics on the strength of their ranking. China, for instance, had secured a spot in both gender divisions for the Paris Olympics as early as November 2023 by ranking third in men’s and first in women’s.
Staunchly behind the country’s stride toward global recognition in the FIBA 3×3 stage is SBP president Al S. Panlilio.
“SBP president Al has always pushed for the growth of 3×3 as he firmly believes the Philippines should be competing at the Olympic level,” said Dy.
Under the partnership, Peachy Medina of Uratex Dream will be providing the Gilas Women with financial and personnel resources.
Participating in FIBA 3×3 seasons such as the Women’s Series could be exhausting for a small pool of players as they travel around the world to play in different stops, some of which fall in the same week.
With the partnership, certain stops will be spearheaded by Uratex Dream, fielding in players from a combined pool.
Coach Anton Altamirano will be collaborating with Coach Kat Quimpo of Uratex Dream on how to maximize points for the Philippines by carefully choosing and delegating the stops.
“We are very thankful to the efforts of SBP headed by our executive director Ms Erika Dy and with the partnership of Uratex Dream; we are joining the Women’s series for the very first time,” said Altamirano.
“This is a very good development and it will help us in boosting our federation rankings in our ultimate goal of the 2028 Olympics. Every step is important and this is definitely one of the first steps towards the main goal.”
Medina, an avid supporter of women’s basketball in the country, is thrilled to work closely with the Gilas squad.
“I am very grateful to SBP for making this happen. This is indeed a giant leap for Philippine women’s basketball,” she said.
Likewise, Coach Quimpo, who will have the opportunity to handle the national team in a number of stops, was ecstatic about the development.
“SBP’s decision to join the FIBA WS is a testament of how invested the federation is in the development of women’s basketball in the country and how far we have come to confidently compete against the world’s best teams,” he said.
The combined pool will be composed of Gilas mainstays Camille Clarin, Mika Cacho, Angel Surada, Hazel Yam, Kaye Pingol and Tantoy Ferrer, and will be bolstered with veterans Allana Lim and Sam Harada from Uratex Dream.
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