Gilas Women brace for ‘group of death’ in FIBA World Cup qualifiers

A monumental challenge awaits the Gilas Pilipinas Women as they prepare to face some of the world’s basketball powerhouses in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Lyon, France.

The Filipinas were drawn into what many are already calling the “group of death,” joining World No. 3 France, No. 8 Nigeria, No. 12 Germany, No. 15 South Korea, and No. 19 Colombia in Tournament D — a gauntlet stacked with top-tier national teams.

Despite entering the competition as the lowest-ranked squad at No. 39, Gilas remains unfazed. The team, which earned its spot through a Top 6 finish at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, is determined to fight for one of the two remaining World Cup berths up for grabs in their group.

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Pormal nang nabigyan ng bracket ang Gilas Pilipinas Women sa FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers 2026.

Makakasagupa ng Pilipinas sa… pic.twitter.com/JvjBGT7HLr

— Radyo Pilipinas (@radyopilipinas1) October 7, 2025

Germany and Nigeria, however, have already secured automatic qualification — the former as tournament host and the latter as African champions — effectively leaving only four teams to battle for those two tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

While the odds are steep, Gilas takes confidence in its steady rise over recent years. The Filipinas have consistently improved their global standing through competitive showings in Asia, led by cornerstone Jack Animam and a core that has grown together under coach Pat Aquino.

Facing powerhouse nations like France and Germany is nothing short of a baptism by fire, but Gilas believes that experience itself will be invaluable.

Gilas is still chasing history, as the Philippines has never appeared in the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Yet, for a team that has made a habit of exceeding expectations, Lyon could be the stage where dreams turn into milestones.

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