Gilas women, Coach Aquino get some love from long-time hoops patron

MANILA, Philippines — One of the biggest, perhaps the toughest wins by Team Philippines in last year’s Thailand Southeast Games was produced by Gilas Pilipinas Women. There was no doubt about it considering the trials and tribulations the team went through.

It’s a small wonder that long-time basketball patron Caesar Wongchuking was over the moon following the Pat Aquino-led Gilas Women’s gold-winning victory over the host nation.

“Galing ni Pat, the program he established for years and the sacrifices he made for the country is finally paying good dividends,” said Wongchuking, who has been supporting Aquino’s team for the longest time.

Apart from reclaiming its regional dominance, Gilas Women also maintained its Division A status in the FIBA Asia Cup with a 73-70 win over Lebanon 73-70 in their group phase match-up.

That win proved crucial as it earned Gilas Women a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, which will be held in Villeurbanne, France this March.

For its remarkable showing last year, the team was honored last Friday at Mt. Fuji Restaurant inside the Manila Polo Club. It was a double celebration as Wongchuking also a threw a party for members of the Acrocity/MEC squad, which topped the Xavier Alumni Basketball League for a record 15th title.

“I hope they could make it to the World Cup although it’s quite a tough mission,” added Wongchuking, who chairs the Czark Mak Group of Companies that developed Bulacan’s newest commercial, industrial, and lifestyle township Acrocity.

Last year, Wongchuking helped bankroll the staging of the Negros Basketball Association (NBA) Invitational Basketball Tournament that gathered prominent players of Negros who once played in the major collegiate and amateur leagues, and eventually in the PBA. (Contributed story)

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