FIBA announced that the Philippines was awarded the hosting rights for the FIBA 2027 Women's Asia Cup. This development has come at a time when the country has seen exponential growth in women's basketball.
FIBA Asia Cup is back in the Philpipines as basketball’s governing body announced the country will host its women’s edition in 2027.
“We are excited to return to the Philippines for a FIBA Asia event,” said FIBA Executive Director-Asia Hagop Khajirian.
Khajirian added the timing couldn’t have come at a better time as women’s basketball in the country continues to prosper at a rapid rate.
Gilas Pilipinas Women are currently competing in the William Jones Cup in Taiwan as part of their preparations for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup that starts later this month in China.
“We believe hosting the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup event in the Philippines, where basketball has a passionate following, will help FIBA’s efforts to promote women’s basketball in Asia. The event will also serve as a boost to the SBP’s efforts to promote women’s basketball in the Philippines,” he added.
“The timing is perfect for the Philippines to host this competition as women’s basketball in the country currently has great momentum behind it with the foundation of a women’s professional league and some of our national team players getting opportunities to play abroad," said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.
This development marks the first time in a decade the country is hosting a continental basketball event.
In 2013, the then-FIBA Asia Championship was held in the Philippines where Gilas Pilipinas earned a breakthrough slot in the the World Cup in Spain the following year.
Led by Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, and Jimmy Alapag, the national team broke South Korea’s curse in the semifinals and advanced to the Finals against Hammed Haddadi’s Iran.
While the Filipinos faltered against the eventual champion Iran, it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits knowing the country was back on the basketball world map.
The basketball-crazy nation also co-hosted the World Cup in 2013 that saw international basketball stars like newly-minted NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, Serbia’s sweet-shooting guard Bogdan Boganovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Anthony Edwards, among others, show their wares.