There will be big shoes to fill for the next coach of Gilas Pilipinas Women.
Over a month after parting ways with Pat Aquino, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will soon name a new head coach for Gilas Pilipinas Women.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, SBP Executive Director Erika Dy confirmed that they have a shortlist of about six to seven foreign coaches. Candidates come from the US, Australia, Europe, and neighboring Asian countries, and were initially screened by program director Bacon Austria.
“So our first set was more than 10 [candidates]. Actually a lot of coaches reached out to apply, all from outside the Philippines. They went through Bacon Austria and then his shortlist are the ones I am going to interview this week,” Dy said during the media launch of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series and World Tour Challenger Manila leg in Parañaque.
No Filipino coaches are in the running, according to Dy, as the SBP wants a clear “upgrade” for Gilas Women moving forward.
“It’s really an upgrade ‘no? Coach Pat has been doing very well for Gilas Women. So if we would have gone to a Filipino coach, it would still be him,” Dy explained. “So nag-usap kami ni Coach Pat, and we felt that we needed to bring Gilas to another level. It’s been a while already since we’ve gone further than what we achieved in Southeast Asia.”
Culture was another consideration according to the SBP chief, claiming that foreign coaches bring neutrality when forming their talent pools.
“We believe that an added reason why you get foreign coaches is because of the neutrality it brings across the different local clubs in the country,” Dy explained. “Medyo nahihirapan tayo minsan pag Pilipino ‘yung coach kasi grupo-grupo. Naiintriga tayo sa selection ng players and at least naalis natin ‘yun kapag foreigner ‘yung coach. So hopefully we get the best players that we have.”
Either way, the next coach of Gilas Women will have big shoes to fill. Under Aquino, the Nationals reached historic heights, from their three Southeast Asian Games medals, to their promotion to Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
There is also the challenge of bringing Gilas Women to the Olympics, according to Dy, which would be a major consideration for any long-term commitments.
“Obviously, ‘yung pinaka-KPI natin or goal is really LA 2028, but we know that it’s a short turnover and we have just two years to prepare,” Dy said. “So if ever we don’t make it to LA, dapat naka-foundation na siya to Brisbane 2032, so ‘yun naman ‘yung dream nating mga Pilipino, which is to bring back basketball to the Olympics.”
If things go according to plan, the SBP is set to name the new coach of Gilas Women by mid-May.
Images from FIBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has shortlisted six to seven foreign coaches to replace Pat Aquino as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Women, according to SBP Executive Director Erika Dy. Candidates come from the US, Australia, Europe, and neighboring Asian countries.
No, the SBP has excluded Filipino coaches from its shortlist for the next Gilas Pilipinas Women head coach. Executive Director Erika Dy said the federation wants a foreign hire to bring an “upgrade” and added neutrality to the team’s player selection process.
The SBP is expected to name the new head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Women by mid-May, according to Executive Director Erika Dy. The federation is currently interviewing a shortlist of foreign candidates screened by program director Bacon Austria.
Pat Aquino led Gilas Pilipinas Women to three Southeast Asian Games medals and the team’s promotion to Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup before parting ways with the program. SBP officials credited his tenure while explaining their decision to pursue a foreign successor.
Qualifying Gilas Pilipinas Women for the Olympics is a top priority for the next head coach, per SBP Executive Director Erika Dy. The federation is targeting LA 2028 as its main goal, with Brisbane 2032 as a fallback given the short preparation window.
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