SBP forms alliance with Uratex Dream for FIBA Women’s Series debut of Gilas Women

c/o SBP

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is taking a solid step to boost our chances in qualifying for 3x3 basketball in the Olympics.

The NSA has formalized a partnership with club side Uratex Dream in a move to help improve its FIBA 3x3 ranking.

SBP Executive Director Erika Dy shares, "Federation ranking is almost everything in the 3x3 universe. The more high-level events you join, the more points you earn."

She adds, "This partnership allows us to join up to 10 stops of the Women’s Series which could improve our ranking by more than 10 spots by the end of the season."

Unlike 5x5, 3x3 uses its rankings to help determine not just its Olympic participants, but also its field in its major national team competitions like the World Cup. Asian rival China, for instance, locked in its berth to Paris by November 2023 thanks to its ranking strength in both men and women.

Dy also notes that SBP President Al S. Panlilio has given his blessing towards this route to Los Angeles in 2028. "SBP president Al has always pushed for the growth of 3x3 as he firmly believes the Philippines should be competing at the Olympic level," she says.

Dream owner Peachy Medina is set to provide Gilas Women with financial and personnel resources. 

Anton Altamirano will collaborate with Dream coach Kat Quimpo on finding ways that the Philippines can maximize points on the scheduled Women's Series legs, with the 2024 edition having started already a few weeks ago in Springfield. Anton has experience navigating the FIBA 3x3 experience, having coached at the Challenger and 3x3 World Tour circuit.

He says about this partnership, "We are very thankful to the efforts of SBP headed by our executive director Ms Erika Dy and with the partnership of Uratex Dream; we are joining the Women’s series for the very first time."

Anton also adds, "This is a very good development and it will help us in boosting our federation rankings in our ultimate goal of the 2028 Olympics. Every step is important and this is definitely one of the first steps towards the main goal."

Women's basketball advocate Medina is very much thrilled to have this partnership. "I am very grateful to SBP for making this happen. This is indeed a giant leap for Philippine women’s basketball," she says.

Quimpo, on the other hand, is ecstatic about this development. The former Ateneo mentor says, "SBP's decision to join the FIBA WS is a testament of how invested the federation is in the development of women's basketball in the country and how far we have come to confidently compete against the world's best teams." 

There are eighteen more legs scheduled in the tour, with the next one coming at the end of the month in Marseille.

Set to be the initial pool of candidates for the WS Tour are Gilas Women stalwarts Camille Clarin, Mikka Cacho, and Angel Surada, with 3x3 standouts Hazelle Yam, Allana Lim, and Sam Harada. Completing the group is the top-ranked 3x3 Filipina in Kaye Pingol and Tantoy Ferrer, who is fresh from helping the University of Santo Tomas claim both 3x3 and 5x5 titles in the UAAP.