BACOLOD City — Gilas Pilipinas Girls stamped their class as Southeast Asia’s top under-18 women’s basketball team after crushing Indonesia, 88-62, to complete a perfect campaign in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) U18 Women’s Qualifiers and clinch a coveted berth in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup.
The Filipinas capped their dominant regional sweep at STI West Negros University, finishing unbeaten in four games and securing their return to Asia’s premier youth basketball tournament, where they will battle the continent’s elite teams later this year in Malaysia.
Gilas seized control from the opening quarter and never looked back, building an 11-point lead after the first period before steadily pulling away from the Indonesians. The national squad’s relentless defense and balanced offense eventually ballooned the advantage to as much as 34 points.
Ilongga standout Rhiane Perez led the charge with 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists despite seeing limited minutes. Perez’s stellar performance throughout the tournament also earned her the Most Valuable Player award.
Sophia Dignadice contributed 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Tiffany Reyes added 12 markers. Maria Singson chipped in 11 points as four Gilas players finished in double figures.
Under head coach Sandy Arespacochaga, the Filipinas turned the regional qualifiers into a showcase of dominance, winning all four of their games by an average margin of more than 36 points.
Before overwhelming Indonesia, Gilas Girls also posted convincing victories over Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand.
Indonesia, which entered the final match unbeaten, settled for runner-up honors with a 3-1 record. Inez Angelina Welly paced the Indonesians with 18 points, while Joanne Giovanni added 11.
The victory sends Gilas Pilipinas Girls to the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup in Malaysia later this year, a tournament that also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China.
With their flawless SEABA campaign complete, the Filipinas now shift their focus to proving they can compete with Asia’s basketball powerhouses and continue their rise on the international stage./PN
