Sumayah Sugapong expressed pride after Gilas Pilipinas Women secured their first-ever win in the 2027 FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifiers after taking down world No. 19 Colombia.
Sumayah Sugapong could not hide her pride after Gilas Pilipinas Women capped their 2027 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a historic victory over Colombia on Tuesday night.
The Philippines secured a 74-59 triumph at the Astroballe in France, marking the women’s program's first-ever win against a non-Asian team.
Sugapong played a key role in the milestone victory, finishing with 21 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals to help the Filipinas close the tournament on a high note.
Kacey Dela Rosa led the way with a dominant double-double of 25 points and 19 rebounds as Gilas Women ended their campaign with a 1-4 record.
Despite the team's early struggles in the tournament, Sugapong said the win meant a lot not only to the players but also to Filipinos watching around the world.
"I think everybody is super happy, super proud to come out of this tournament with a win," Sugapong said.
"I think it's huge not only for the girls sitting in the locker room and the coaches, but everybody watching back home in the Philippines, even in the States. I think we did a lot for our country.
Gilas Women had dropped their first four games by an average of 32.5 points, starting with a 115-66 loss to host France, followed by a 113-80 defeat to Germany, a 101-84 setback against Nigeria, and a 105-74 loss to Korea.
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Still, the Filipinas stayed together throughout the challenging stretch, something Sugapong believes made the victory even more meaningful.
"These tournaments are a lot of fun. There's a couple of the girls on the team who live in the States, then there's some locals in the Philippines," she said.
"This is one of the only times throughout the year where we get to be together in the same place."
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The University of Arizona guard also credited the team’s leadership for helping keep the group energized despite the tough losses earlier in the tournament.
"At the end, one of our captains, every single timeout, dead ball, she's telling us, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy," she said.
"When you have your captain telling you that, she plays a lot of joy on the court, which is contagious. You play better when you're having fun."
The historic win provided a fitting ending to a difficult but valuable campaign for Gilas Women as they continue to gain experience against world-class competition.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.