Kacey Dela Rosa, Afril Bernardino, and seven other holdovers from the Gilas Women 2025 SEA Games gold-medal squad will join Stefanie Berberabe for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers in France.
Stefanie Berberabe is back in the fold.
After missing last year’s Southeast Asian Games campaign, the Tagaytay ‘Tol Patriots standout will once again suit up for Gilas Pilipinas Women as the national team unveiled its 12-player roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in France.
Berberabe was notably absent from last year’s SEA Games roster after she was ruled a “naturalized” player under eligibility rules.
[RELATED: Gilas Women buck personnel issues following late SEA Games decision on eligibility]
But this time, the 25-year-old returns to headline a squad that blends experience and continuity as the Philippines prepares for a daunting qualifying challenge against some of the world’s best teams.
Also making the squad are several familiar names from the SEA Games gold medal run, including Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Kacey Dela Rosa, Louna Ozar, Angel Surada, Sophia Dignadice, Saray Heyn, Ann Pingol and Trina Guytingco.
Completing the roster are former UAAP Finals MVP Kent Pastrana and Sumayah Sugapong, both of whom return to national colors after last representing the country in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
The task ahead, however, will be far tougher.
Gilas Women face a brutal stretch in the qualifiers, taking on several top-ranked teams over a six-day span.
The world No. 39 Philippines opens its campaign against reigning Olympic silver medalist and world No. 3 France on Thursday, March 12, at 3:30 a.m. (PH time), before taking on Germany, Nigeria, South Korea and Colombia in a six-day stretch.
The game will air live on One Sports+ and the Pilipinas Live app.
Germany automatically qualified as host of the tournament proper, which will be held from September 4 to 13 in Berlin later this year, while Nigeria booked its place after winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.