SBP unveils 'Gilas Hiraya' as new name for Gilas Pilipinas Women

November 2 ------ The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has unveiled “Gilas Hiraya” as the new identity of the country's national women's basketball team as it continues to build its presence on the international stage.

The new identity gives the women's team its own distinct brand, separate from its men's counterpart, which has carried the Gilas Pilipinas name since late 2009. It also marks a fresh start for the program, with the new name Hiraya drawing from the Filipino word associated with hopes, dreams, and aspirations as the women's team looks to forge its own identity and chart a new path in international basketball.

Gilas Hiraya is coming off a pair of big international tournaments. New Canadian head coach BT Toews made his debut during the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament, where the Filipina ballers fell narrowly to Mexico before absorbing a blowout loss to Canada. They didn't leave empty-handed as Hiraya pulled off a 79-75 win over Senegal.

Gilas Hiraya then flew to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games, ending up second in Group B with a 2-1 record before losing to Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals to bow out.

Source: gmanetwork.com