Faces of the News: Gilas Pilipinas Women

Illustration by Rene Elevera

The Philippines had never won a basketball gold in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) before, though it came close several times.

Coach Pat Aquino referenced those heartbreaks before the 30th SEA Games started.

Then came championship night in 5×5 basketball, and the Philippines was finally the women’s champion, beating Thailand, 91-71, in the finals.

All those days of being ignored came to an end when the Gilas Pilipinas women stood on top of the podium and — for the first time ever — on top of the country’s male-crowded basketball world.

Gilas Pilipinas men’s national coach Tim Cone said it best: “[The women] are the story tonight, not us.”