Gilas Pilipinas Women have made history by climbing to 14th place in the FIBA 3×3 world rankings, marking the highest global position ever achieved by a Philippine 3×3 team.

The breakthrough ranking came on the heels of the team’s standout performance at the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League Asia-Pacific 1 in Doha, where the Philippines topped four of the six competition stops and amassed 530 points—50 points more than second-ranked New Zealand.

A landmark rise in global women’s 3×3 basketball

The Philippine squad, composed of Cielo Pagdulagan, Kristine Cayabyab, Cheska Apag, Jem Meniano, Elaine Etang, and Kacey Dela Rosa, earned not just wins but validation as a regional powerhouse, pushing the country up eight rungs in the world rankings. This surge places the Philippines as the fourth-best team in Asia, trailing only behind China, Japan, and Mongolia.

“We’re really proud of their accomplishments in Doha,” said SBP Executive Director Erika Dy. “Our women’s teams have always had the talent to compete with the best—they just needed support and the right platform.”

Support and preparation fuel world-class status

Gilas Women’s rise is not only a result of victories on the court but also of strategic planning behind the scenes. Head coach Anton Altamirano credited strong support from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the players’ schools, and corporate partners.

“Ranking 14th in the world is a great achievement and I believe it’s only the start,” Altamirano said. “The challenge was preparing the team early since I had to leave for another tournament in Europe, but my staff stepped up. The girls executed everything we worked on with discipline and grit.”

With this milestone, the Gilas Women are set to compete in the 2025 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in China, bringing their newfound world ranking and momentum onto the global stage.