Gilas Women bows to South Korea, exits FIBA World Cup qualifiers

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FIBA

The Gilas Pilipinas Women officially crashed out of contention for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup following a bruising 105-74 defeat at the hands of South Korea during their qualifying tournament clash in Lyon, France.

Dropping to a 0-4 win-loss record, the Filipina cagers simply could not contain the relentless perimeter shooting of the world No. 15 South Koreans, who secured their own ticket to the World Cup with the decisive victory.

Entering the pivotal matchup desperate for a breakthrough win, the Philippines faced an uphill battle against a highly disciplined Asian powerhouse renowned for its lethal outside sniping and crisp ball movement.

"We had a great start but then Korea had an awesome game today, shooting at least 50% from the field and about 48% from the 3-point shot," Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino admitted during the post-game press conference.

The Filipinas actually showed massive heart in the opening frame, unleashing a gritty 11-0 run to keep in step with their heavily favored foes before a late layup by Jihyun Park knotted the score at 17-all.

However, South Korea completely shifted the momentum in the middle quarters by catching absolute fire from beyond the arc.

Sharpshooter Leeseul Kang led the devastating Korean onslaught by burying eight of her team's 19 total three-pointers to finish with a game-high 24 points.

The suffocating Korean defense also forced the Philippines into committing 21 costly turnovers, converting those extra possessions into an insurmountable lead through an incredible 30 team assists.

Despite the heartbreaking elimination, two-time UAAP MVP Kacey Dela Rosa served as the undisputed bright spot for the Philippines by erupting for a monster performance of 26 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks, with 13 of her points coming in a valiant fourth-quarter effort.

Seeking to salvage their campaign and bring home an elusive victory, the Gilas Women will conclude their qualifying tournament run against fellow winless squad Colombia on Tuesday, March 17.