The women's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the country in women's FIBA tournaments.
Compared to the men's national team, the women's national team receives less reception from local basketball enthusiasts. Locally based player has no national league to play in after college which has a few leagues such as the WNCAA, Filoil Premier Cup, and Fr. Martin’s Cup. The women's national team has been playing at Level II at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women for the past few editions of the tournament. Again in contrast of their men counterpart who were often describe as powerhouses in the Southeast Asia region, the women's national team has been behind Thailand and Malaysia in the past few years.[2]
History
On 2007, Discovery Suites, a hotel brand, became the main sponsor of the women's national team.[3]
On 2008, Haydee Ong was appointed as head coach of the women's national team replacing Fritz Gatson who last guided the national team at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.[4] The national team under Ong won a gold medal at the 2010 SEABA Championship for Women, the country's first medal at the said tournament. The national team previously won silver during the 1995, 1997, and 2007 editions of the tournament.[5]
The national team pushed for the naturalization of 6-3 foot 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 Haydee Ong lobbied the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas and the Congress to hasten the naturalization process of Zheng so the Chinese player can join the national team for the 2011 editions of the Fiba Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games[6] While Douthit was eventually naturalized, Zheng's naturalization was hung into limbo. On August 2014, the national team manager, Cynthia Tiu said that the team will focus on developing home-grown players than to resort to naturalizing players. Tiu said that Zheng was disappointed but also said that a refilling of her petition for naturalization can't be done since Zheng is already married.[7]
The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas appointed Patrick Aquino as the new coach of the national team, succeeding head coach Haydee Ong. His first task will be to guide the national team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Ever Bilena will also the new main sponsor of the national team.[8] However Ong inquired the SBP regarding the move and said that the federation promised that Ong and team manager Cynthia Tiu will be in charge of the team until the end of 2015. Aquino has already held try-outs for the new national team. The national team under Ong went on participating at the 2015 Discovery Women’s Basketball Invitational even after the move.[5]
Competitions
Current roster
Squad for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women:[9]
Philippines Women's National Basketball Team roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | # | Name | Age – Date of birth | Ht. | Club | Ctr. |
3.5 !F |
4 |
Galicia, Mary Joy |
7001240000000000000♠24 – (1989-09-15)September 15, 1989 |
70 !5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
|
PHI ! |
1.5 !G |
5 |
Grajales, Joan |
7001330000000000000♠33 – (1979-11-23)November 23, 1979 |
61 !5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
|
PHI ! |
3.5 !F |
6 |
Borja, Chovi |
7001270000000000000♠27 – (1985-11-06)November 6, 1985 |
67 !5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
|
PHI ! |
3.5 !F |
7 |
Arayi, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha |
7001270000000000000♠27 – (1985-11-05)November 5, 1985 |
64 !5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
|
PHI ! |
5.0 !C |
8 |
Flormata, Ma. Lalaine |
7001260000000000000♠26 – (1987-04-08)April 8, 1987 |
72 !6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
|
PHI ! |
3.5 !F |
9 |
Jacob, Melissa |
7001290000000000000♠29 – (1984-03-01)March 1, 1984 |
67 !5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
|
PHI ! |
1.5 !G |
10 |
Mercado, Bernadette |
7001270000000000000♠27 – (1986-01-28)January 28, 1986 |
63 !5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) |
|
PHI ! |
1.5 !G |
11 |
Bernardo, Fria |
7001220000000000000♠22 – (1991-02-22)February 22, 1991 |
64 !5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
|
PHI ! |
3.5 !F |
12 |
Resultay, Cindy |
7001220000000000000♠22 – (1990-12-31)December 31, 1990 |
65 !5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
|
PHI ! |
5.0 !C |
13 |
Tioseco, Cassandra Noel |
7001260000000000000♠26 – (1986-12-12)December 12, 1986 |
73 !6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
|
PHI ! |
5.0 !C |
14 |
Almazan, Analyn |
7001250000000000000♠25 – (1988-10-07)October 7, 1988 |
70 !5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
|
PHI ! |
3.5 !F |
15 |
Tiu, Denise Patricia |
7001210000000000000♠21 – (1990-05-05)May 5, 1990 |
67 !5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
|
PHI ! |
|
- Head coach
- Haydee Ong
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- from field describes last
club before the tournament
|
Past rosters
1997 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 2nd among 3 teams
Julie Amos, Mary Ellyn Caasi, Cristina Columna, Erlyn Destacamento, Joanna Franquelli, Carmina Maralit, Caroline Mindo, Bambi Tinasas, Emelyn Vega. (Coach:Ricardo Roces)[10]
2011 Southeast Asian Games: finished 2nd among 5 teams
John Molina Limengco, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Karen Lomogda, Melissa Jacob, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Bernadette Mercado, Analyn Almajan, Maria Lalaine Flormata. (Coach: Haydee Ong)
2010 SEABA Championship for Women: finished 1st among 5 teams
Sylvia Marie Valencia, Joan Grajales, Chovi Borja, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Angeli Jo Gloriani, Melissa Jacob, Bernadette Mercado, Aurora Adriano, Diana Rose Jose, Cassandra Tioseco, Ma. Ana Fatima Tolentino, Anna Katrina Pineda
Coaches
- Ricardo Roces (~1997)
- Fritz Gatson (?-2007)
- Haydee Ong (2008-2015)
- Patrick Aquino (2015-present)
References
External links
National sports teams of the Philippines |
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| Male teams | |
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| Female teams | |
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