Gilas women miss bus to FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas women bowed to Senegal, 87-62, and crashed out of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament Thursday night at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda.

The Filipina ballers could not sustain their decent start by yielding to the taller Senegalese in the next two frames on their way to a 25-point defeat.

Gilas went winless in three games after losing to world No. 8 Brazil, 77-74, and No. 16 Hungary in Group C. Only the top two teams made it to the semis.

Jack Animam led Gilas, mentored by head coach and program director Pat Aquino, with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals while Naomi Panganiban and Janine Pontejos had 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Ndioma Kane fired 21 with help from Fatou Pouye (13) and Khadidiatou Sarr (12) for Senegal, which completed a 3-0 sweep to arrange a semifinal duel against host Rwanda, which finished second in Group D.

Hungary, No. 2 seed in Group C, faces Group D top-ranked team Great Britain in the other pairing.

Only the champion of the eight-team Rwanda OQT along with the titlist in the OQT stop in Mexico featuring Groups A and D will book tickets to the main qualifiers for the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany.

They will join the top six teams from Asia, Americas and Europe plus the four teams from Africa in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament proper.