The top prize for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup slated in China is making a three-day stop in the Philippines.
The 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup trophy will be coming to the Philippines, with expected stops in Malolos, Bulacan, and across Metro Manila.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is hoping that the three-day tour of the trophy will inspire the next generation of women’s basketball players.
During the trophy tour press conference in Pasay on Monday, SBP Executive Director Erika Dy said that the Philippines is one of a few stops in the trophy’s rotation before it goes to Shenzhen, China, where the hostilities will happen next month.
“The trophy’s not going to all the countries that are participating in the Asia Cup so we feel very special that it is in Manila right now.” she said.
First heading to Gilas women mainstay Jack Animam’s hometown of Malolos, Bulacan on Tuesday, before being passed around universities in Metro Manila, Dy said it aims to give back to the multiple UAAP programs that have been helping Gilas in producing high-calibre players.
The trophy is slated to stop in schools like Ateneo, UP, UST, NU, and La Salle, with other schools also considered for more exposure.
“Hopefully we could give due recognition to these programs for producing [players] and helping the grassroots for women’s basketball," said Dy.
But most importantly, Dy said that the whole endeavor comes with the goal of inspiring the next generation of basketball players, and giving them signs of what they can achieve if they work on their game.
“It’s very important no, and we at the SBP believe that to see is to believe. This is why we always like hosting events, bringing it to our shores, so that not only our players can see what kind of competition is out there, but even the fans and the young players who are growing up and one day dream to play for the Gilas teams,” she said.
As for how it inspires our national team, Monique del Carmen said that it now gives the feel that the competition has already started.
With the top prize so close to their hands, del Carmen said that they will play their hardest to hopefully get the trophy to return to Manila, this time hoisted by Gilas Pilipinas in triumph.
“Ngayon palang kinakabahan na ko. It gives us the feeling of we’re in the event already. Right now, I’m nervous, actually, excited, seeing the trophy so close with us. It’s like already the FIBA event against those powerhouse teams,” said del Carmen.
“So I’m just excited and hopefully we can be at the Top 6 because we heard that if you’re in the Top 6, you can qualify for the World Cup. So that’s the very important goals right now. But we really hope that we can get the chip and like what Coach Pat [Aquino] said, we hope that it stays in Manila.”
The Gilas Pilipinas women’s team will be facing a busy schedule in the coming months — with the William Jones Cup beginning early in July before they suit up for the Women’s Asia Cup from July 13 to 20.
There, they are grouped with powerhouse teams Japan and Australia, and contender Lebanon.
The Philippines are also chasing a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany by finishing in the Top 6 of the tournament. There are eight total teams in the competition.