Philippines women's national basketball team

Filipino women in Dagupan playing basketball as depicted in a 1910 postcard.

Women's basketball in the Philippines dates back as early as the 1910s. Basketball was first introduced to the Philippine public school system by the Americans as a women's sort in 1910 and was played in Interscholastic meets in 1911 until 1913. The sport used by Americans to promote good health and motherhood and citizenry grew in popularity among women. Women's basketball met opposition from conservative groups, particularly the Catholic Church who view bloomers worn by women basketball players as inappropriate. By the time skirts were allowed to be worn above bloomers as a compromise, women's basketball is already in the decline and is only played in provincial and local interscholastic meets. Indoor softball and as well as volleyball became the more preferred sport for Filipino women.[3]

On 2007, Discovery Suites, a hotel brand, became the main sponsor of the women's national team.[4] On 2008, Haydee Ong was appointed as head coach of the women's national team[5] replacing Matthew "Fritz" Gaston, who guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and a silver medal finish at the 2007 SEABA Championship for Women.[6] Under Ong, the team won the gold medal at the 2010 SEABA Championship for Women, the country's first medal at the said tournament. The team previously won silver during the 1995, 1997, and 2007 editions of the tournament.

The team pushed for the naturalization of 6'3" tall Chinese, Zheng Xiaojing, a move parallel to the naturalization of American-born Marcus Douthit for the men's national team. Zheng's naturalization process started with the filing of House Bill 02683 by Congressman Roberto Puno of Antipolo in August, about the same time as Douthit's. Head coach Ong lobbied the SBP and the Philippine Congress to hasten the naturalization process of Zheng so that she can join the national team for the 2011 editions of the FIBA Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games[7] While Douthit was eventually naturalized, Zheng's naturalization was in limbo. In August 2014, team manager, Cynthia Tiu said that the team will focus on developing homegrown players than resort to naturalizing players. Tiu said that Zheng was disappointed but also said that a re-filing of her petition for naturalization cannot be done since Zheng is already married.[8]

The SBP appointed Patrick Aquino as the new head coach of the national team. His first task will be to guide the national team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. has been made the new sponsor of the national team.[9][10] SBP executive director Sonny Barrios pointed out the decision to make changes in the coaching staff of the women's team was made after discussions among members of the search and screening committee, which is composed of several basketball stakeholders.[11]

In a historic run, Perlas officially promoted in the Level 1 of the FIBA Asia Women's Championships that will held in 2017, after the win against India, 82–76.[12]

In May 2019, the SBP announced that the Gilas Pilipinas name would be used across all its sporting programs for the men's, men's youth (men's under-19 and men's under-17), men's 3x3 and women's teams.[13][14] Aquino assumed responsibility over the Gilas Pilipinas Women program.

Gilas Women attained their best finish at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in the 2023 edition. They avoided the relegation playoff for the very first time by at least one group stage game at the expense of Chinese Taipei – also their first group stage win since their promotion to the first division in 2015.[15][16] They finished sixth overall in a tournament of eight teams.[17]

Philippines roster at the 2022 Asian Games.[20]

Philippines women's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G 0 Khate Castillo 26 – (1996-10-05)5 October 1996 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) F 3 Afril Bernardino 27 – (1996-04-03)3 April 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) 4 Camille Nolasco 18 – (2005-02-26)26 February 2005 UP Lady Maroons G 6 France Cabinbin 29 – (1991-12-06)6 December 1991 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) G 7 Janine Pontejos (C) 30 – (1992-10-29)29 October 1992 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) G 9 Louna Ozar 19 – (2004-05-09)9 May 2004 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) UP Lady Maroons G 11 Stefani Berberabe 23 – (2000-07-13)13 July 2000 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) Westmont Warriors G 12 Monique del Carmen 25 – (1997-12-21)21 December 1997 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) F 13 Katrina Guytingco 26 – (1997-08-22)22 August 1997 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) G 18 Marizze Tongco 27 – (1995-10-18)18 October 1995 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) G 18 Mikka Chaco 25 – (1998-01-19)19 January 1998 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)	Head coach Patrick Aquino Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age describes age on 26 June 2023

• Note: Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships only.

• Ricardo Roces[23] (c. 1997)
• Fritz Gaston (2003–2007)
• Haydee Ong (2008–2014)
• Patrick Aquino (2015–present)