Gilas Women beat Senegal to end Fiba Pre-OQT campaign on high note

Gilas Pilipinas women after beating Senegal in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-qualifying Tournament. –FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Women’s run in the 2026 Fiba Women’s Olympic Pre-qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, may not have been stellar, but they ended their campaign on a high note.

The Philippines defeated Senegal, 79-75, in its final game of the pre-qualifiers Friday to finish with a 1-2 record in Group B.

Prior to the win, Gilas Women absorbed losses to Mexico and Canada.

“What a difference a day makes,” Gilas Women coach BT Toews said. “They’re definitely not Canada but their ranking is better than ours. I said yesterday that I thought our defense was getting better and we showed it today, big-time.”

READ: BT Toews eyes big future for Gilas Women, one game at a time

The victory also marked Toews’ first win as the program’s head coach.

The Philippines held a commanding 61-50 lead heading into the fourth quarter before Senegal trimmed the deficit late.

The Senegalese cut the lead to two, 69-67, with 5:02 left, but Vanessa de Jesus, who finished with 16 points, kept Gilas in control with a triple for a 72-67 advantage.

Senegal came even closer at 73-71 before Kacey Dela Rosa answered with another 3-pointer to put the Philippines up, 76-71, with 2:17 remaining.

Dela Rosa and Sophia Dignadice finished with 16 points apiece for the Philippines, while Jack Animam added 14.

Cierra Dillard topscored for Senegal with 25 points. Khadija Faye and Ndioma Kane turned in 14 points each in the defeat.