Philippines women's national basketball team

Filipino women in Dagupan playing basketball as depicted in a 1910 postcard.

Women's basketball in the Philippines dates back as early as the 1910s. Basketball was first introduced to the Philippine public school system by the Americans as a women's sort in 1910 and was played in Interscholastic meets in 1911 until 1913. The sport used by Americans to promote good health and motherhood and citizenry grew in popularity among women. Women's basketball met opposition from conservative groups, particularly the Catholic Church who view bloomers worn by women basketball players as inappropriate. By the time skirts were allowed to be worn above bloomers as a compromise, women's basketball is already in the decline and is only played in provincial and local interscholastic meets. Indoor softball and as well as volleyball became the more preferred sport for Filipino women.[3]

On 2007, Discovery Suites, a hotel brand, became the main sponsor of the women's national team.[4] On 2008, Haydee Ong was appointed as head coach of the women's national team[5] replacing Matthew "Fritz" Gaston, who guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and a silver medal finish at the 2007 SEABA Championship for Women.[6] Under Ong, the team won the gold medal at the 2010 SEABA Championship for Women, the country's first medal at the said tournament. The team previously won silver during the 1995, 1997, and 2007 editions of the tournament.

The team pushed for the naturalization of 6'3" 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 Ong lobbied the SBP and the Philippine Congress to hasten the naturalization process of Zheng so that she can join the national team for the 2011 editions of the FIBA Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games[7] While Douthit was eventually naturalized, Zheng's naturalization was in limbo. On August 2014, team manager, Cynthia Tiu said that the team will focus on developing homegrown players than resort to naturalizing players. Tiu said that Zheng was disappointed but also said that a re-filing of her petition for naturalization cannot be done since Zheng is already married.[8]

The SBP appointed Patrick Aquino as the new head coach of the national team. His first task will be to guide the national team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. has been made the new sponsor of the national team.[9][10] SBP executive director Sonny Barrios pointed out the decision to make changes in the coaching staff of the women’s team was made after discussions among members of the search and screening committee, which is composed of several basketball stakeholders.[11]

In a historic run, Perlas officially promoted in the Level 1 of the FIBA Asia Women's Championships that will held in 2017, after the win against India, 82-76.[12]

In May 2019, the SBP announced that the Gilas Pilipinas name would be used across all its sporting programs for the men's, men's youth (men's under-19 and men's under-17), men's 3x3 and women's teams.[13][14] Gilas Pilipinas Women will be headed by Patrick Aquino.

Philippines roster at the 28th Asian Women's Basketball Championship:[17]

Philippines roster at the 41st William Jones Cup.[18]

Philippines women's National Basketball Team - 2019 William Jones Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club F 1 Arencia Dana' E Hawkins 25 – (1993-11-27)27 November 1993 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Arizona State University G 3 Afril Bernardino 23 – (1996-04-03)3 April 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) National University G 5 Camille Claro 23 – (1996-06-13)13 June 1996 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) De La Salle University G 6 France Mae Cabinbin 27 – (1991-12-06)6 December 1991 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) Lyceum of the Philippines University G 7 Janine Pontejos 24 – (1992-10-29)29 October 1992 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) University of the East C 10 Jack Danielle Animam 18 – (1998-11-27)27 November 1998 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) National University F 11 Mei-Lyn Bautista 22 – (1997-05-26)26 May 1997 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) George Washington University C 17 Clare Castro 22 – (1997-01-13)13 January 1997 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Far Eastern University F 18 Danica Therese Jose 25 – (1994-03-18)18 March 1994 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Ateneo de Manila University F 21 Kelli Casey Hayes 23 – (1995-11-22)22 November 1995 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) National University G 24 Elisha Gabriel Bade 22 – (1996-12-22)22 December 1996 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) California State University, Sacramento F 28 Gemma Miranda 24 – (1995-02-28)28 February 1995 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) National University	Head coach Patrick Aquino Assistant coach(es) Julie Amos Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on July 24, 2019

Philippines roster at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship:[19]

Philippines women's national basketball team - 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 0 Borja, Chovi 29 – (1985-09-06)September 6, 1985 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Philippine Navy F 5 Gupilan, Shelley Anne 25 – (1990-08-10)August 10, 1990 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) F 8 Sambile, Camille 23 – (1992-04-24)April 24, 1992 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Far Eastern University G 9 Tongco, Marizze Andrea 19 – (1995-10-18)October 18, 1995 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) National University C 10 Animam, Jack Danielle 16 – (1998-11-27)November 27, 1998 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) National University G 12 Resultay, Cindy 24 – (1990-12-31)December 31, 1990 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Philippine Air Force G 15 Dy, Raiza Rose 24 – (1990-11-21)November 21, 1990 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) G 16 Miranda, Gemma 20 – (1995-02-28)February 28, 1995 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University F 17 Bernardino, Afril 19 – (1996-04-03)April 3, 1996 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) National University C 19 Lim, Allana May 26 – (1988-09-12)September 12, 1988 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Far Eastern University G 24 Roman, Sofia Isabella 21 – (1994-05-24)May 24, 1994 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Dartmouth College F 77 Arayi, Merenciana 29 – (1985-11-05)November 5, 1985 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Philippine Navy	Head Coach Patrick Henry Aquino Legend (c) Team captain Age field is age on August 29, 2015

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)[20]

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

Squad for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women:[21]

Philippines women's national basketball team - 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 4 Galicia, Mary Joy 24 – (1989-09-15)September 15, 1989 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) G 5 Grajales, Joan 33 – (1979-11-23)November 23, 1979 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) F 6 Borja, Chovi 27 – (1985-11-06)November 6, 1985 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) F 7 Arayi, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha 27 – (1985-11-05)November 5, 1985 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) C 8 Flormata, Ma. Lalaine 26 – (1987-04-08)April 8, 1987 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) F 9 Jacob, Melissa 29 – (1984-03-01)March 1, 1984 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) G 10 Mercado, Bernadette 27 – (1986-01-28)January 28, 1986 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) G 11 Bernardo, Fria 22 – (1991-02-22)February 22, 1991 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) F 12 Resultay, Cindy 22 – (1990-12-31)December 31, 1990 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) C 13 Tioseco, Cassandra Noel 26 – (1986-12-12)December 12, 1986 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) C 14 Almazan, Analyn 25 – (1988-10-07)October 7, 1988 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) F 15 Tiu, Denise Patricia 21 – (1990-05-05)May 5, 1990 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Head coach Haydee Ong Legend (C) Team captain from field describes last club before the tournament

• Ricardo Roces (c. 1997)
• Matthew "Fritz" Gatson (2007)
• Haydee Ong (2008–2014)
• Patrick Aquino (2015–present)