Gilas Pilipinas Women are off to an impressive start at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The Philippine women’s basketball team has won its first two games of the tournament, beating Kazakhstan in its opener before pulling away from Hong Kong on Sunday, September 20.
And with those back-to-back victories, the Filipinas have already secured a spot in the quarterfinals.
Next up?
A much bigger test against host Japan.
Gilas Pilipinas Women will face Japan on Tuesday, September 22, in their final Group B game at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 noon Philippine time.
So if you’re following the women’s basketball campaign at the Asian Games, here’s everything you need to know about Gilas Pilipinas Women — their schedule, results, lineup, latest standing and next game.
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Gilas Pilipinas Women Asian Games 2026 Schedule
Here is the Philippines’ group-stage schedule. All times below are in Philippine Standard Time.
| Date | Match | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Philippines vs Kazakhstan | 3:00 PM | Philippines won, 86–58 |
| September 20 | Philippines vs Hong Kong | 9:00 AM | Philippines won, 90–73 |
| September 22 | Philippines vs Japan | 12:00 PM | Upcoming |
The Philippines is competing in Group B together with Japan, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.
After two games, Gilas Pilipinas Women remain unbeaten at 2-0.
Latest Result: Philippines Beats Hong Kong, 90–73
Gilas Pilipinas Women officially booked their place in the Asian Games quarterfinals after defeating Hong Kong, 90-73, on September 20 at the Aichi International Arena.
The final score may look comfortable, but this one wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Hong Kong stayed within striking distance for much of the game and even trimmed the Philippine lead to just two points, 59-57, midway through the third quarter.
That was when Gilas began to create some separation.
Stefanie Berberabe and Janine Pontejos knocked down important three-pointers late in the third period, helping the Philippines close the quarter with momentum.
From there, Gilas took control in the fourth.
Berberabe continued to make plays, while Jhazmin Joson caught fire during the final period as the Filipinas eventually stretched their advantage to 20 points before closing out the 17-point victory.
Stefanie Berberabe Leads Gilas Against Hong Kong
Stefanie Berberabe delivered a big performance against Hong Kong.
She finished with:
- 21 points
- 5 rebounds
- 2 assists
Afril Bernardino also came through with another strong all-around performance, recording a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists.
Jhazmin Joson contributed 15 points, Camille Malagar scored 14, and Elizabeth Means added 11.
Five Philippine players finished in double figures — a good example of how balanced the offense was during the victory.
Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Li led all scorers with 30 points, but Gilas’ balanced attack proved too much in the second half.
Philippines vs Hong Kong Final Score
Final score:
Philippines 90, Hong Kong 73
Gilas improved to 2-0 in Group B with the victory.
It was also the Philippines’ second straight double-digit win of the tournament after beating Kazakhstan by 28 points in its opening game.
Philippines Opens Asian Games With 86–58 Win Over Kazakhstan
Before facing Hong Kong, Gilas Pilipinas Women started their Asian Games campaign with an impressive 86-58 victory over Kazakhstan on September 17.
The Philippines immediately took control.
Gilas held Kazakhstan to only nine points in the opening quarter while scoring 25 of its own.
By halftime, the Filipinas were already ahead 49-32.
Then came an even more dominant third quarter.
The Philippines outscored Kazakhstan 27-8 during that period, stretching the lead to 76-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
The game was practically decided by then.
Kazakhstan managed to outscore Gilas in the final period, but the Philippines had already built more than enough of a cushion to secure the 86-58 victory.
Elizabeth Means Shines in Gilas Debut
One of the biggest stories from the Kazakhstan game was Elizabeth Means.
Means made her 5-on-5 national team debut and immediately showed what she could bring to Gilas.
She finished with a team-high 23 points along with four rebounds.
Stefanie Berberabe added 11 points, eight assists and four rebounds as the Philippines started its tournament with a convincing victory.
Means had previously represented the Philippines in 3×3 basketball before joining the 5-on-5 team for the Asian Games.
Her addition gives Gilas another scoring option and added size heading into the more difficult stages of the competition.
Gilas Pilipinas Women Results So Far
Here’s a quick recap of the Philippines’ Asian Games campaign:
September 17: Philippines 86, Kazakhstan 58
Gilas dominated from the opening quarter and never looked back.
Elizabeth Means — 23 points
Stefanie Berberabe — 11 points, 8 assists
Kent Pastrana — 8 points
Janine Pontejos — 8 points
Jhazmin Joson — 8 points
September 20: Philippines 90, Hong Kong 73
Hong Kong kept things competitive into the third quarter before Gilas broke the game open down the stretch.
Stefanie Berberabe — 21 points
Afril Bernardino — 17 points, 11 rebounds
Jhazmin Joson — 15 points
Camille Malagar — 14 points
Elizabeth Means — 11 points
Record: 2 wins, 0 losses
Gilas Pilipinas Women Next Game
The next game for Gilas Pilipinas Women is against Japan.
Philippines vs Japan
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Philippine Time
Venue: Aichi International Arena, Nagoya, Japan
Competition: Women’s Basketball – Group B
This will be the final group-stage game for both teams.
And this one should give us a much clearer picture of where the Philippines stands heading into the knockout rounds.
Japan is traditionally one of Asia’s strongest women’s basketball programs and reached the gold-medal game in the previous Asian Games.
So after convincing victories over Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, Japan represents a significant step up in competition for Gilas.
Is Gilas Pilipinas Women Already in the Quarterfinals?
Yes.
Following the 90-73 victory against Hong Kong, Gilas Pilipinas Women secured qualification for the quarterfinal round.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group plus the two best third-placed teams advance to the quarterfinals.
That means the Philippines’ Asian Games campaign will continue regardless of the result against Japan.
The Japan game remains important, however, because the final group standings will help determine the Filipinas’ position entering the knockout stage.
Gilas Pilipinas Women Group B
The Philippines is grouped with:
- Philippines
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Hong Kong
The Philippines has already defeated both Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.
Japan is the final opponent.
That makes the September 22 showdown the biggest group-stage test for Gilas Pilipinas Women.
Gilas Pilipinas Women Lineup for Asian Games 2026
Here is the Philippine roster for the women’s 5-on-5 basketball competition:
- Stefanie Berberabe
- Afril Bernardino
- Camille Clarin
- Monique del Carmen
- Camille Malagar
- Elizabeth Means
- Jhazmin Joson
- Kent Pastrana
- Karl Ann Pingol
- Janine Pontejos
- Angelica Surada
- Hazelle Yam
Gilas Pilipinas Women are being coached by Canadian head coach BT Toews during the Asian Games campaign.
It is a roster featuring a mixture of experienced national team players and younger talents.
Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos provide plenty of international experience, while players such as Berberabe, Joson, Pastrana, Pingol and Malagar give the team additional depth.
And now Elizabeth Means has emerged as another important option after making an immediate impact in her first two games.
Who Is Elizabeth Means?
If there’s one new name Filipino basketball fans may be hearing a lot during this Asian Games, it’s Elizabeth Means.
Means entered the tournament as one of the most interesting additions to the Gilas Pilipinas Women roster.
She previously played for the Philippines in 3×3 basketball before making her 5-on-5 Gilas debut against Kazakhstan.
And what a debut it was.
Means scored 23 points in the 86-58 victory, immediately finishing as the team’s leading scorer.
She followed that performance with another 11 points against Hong Kong.
Through her first two games in the tournament, Means has given Gilas another scoring threat heading into the tougher part of the Asian Games.
The Veterans Are Still Delivering
While Means is one of the new additions getting attention, the veterans remain a huge part of the team.
Afril Bernardino showed exactly why against Hong Kong.
With the game still competitive, Bernardino contributed on both ends and eventually finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
Janine Pontejos also hit an important three-pointer during the Philippine run that helped create separation late in the third quarter.
That veteran presence could become even more valuable once the tournament reaches the knockout rounds.
Philippines Looking to Go Further Than Its Asian Games Debut
Gilas Pilipinas Women made their Asian Games debut during the Hangzhou Games, which were held in 2023.
And they actually had a strong first appearance.
The Philippines also defeated Kazakhstan and Hong Kong during that tournament before eventually reaching the quarterfinals.
Their run ended against South Korea, which defeated Gilas, 93-71.
The Philippines ultimately finished fifth in the women’s basketball tournament.
That makes the 2026 campaign only the second Asian Games appearance for the Philippine women’s national 5-on-5 team.
And once again, they are already through to the quarterfinals.
What Happens After Philippines vs Japan?
After the September 22 game against Japan, the group stage will be complete.
Gilas will then move into the quarterfinals, where every game becomes a knockout match.
Win, and the Philippines moves into the semifinals and closer to an Asian Games medal.
Lose, and the medal campaign is over.
The exact quarterfinal opponent will depend on the final standings and tournament bracket after the group phase.
So the identity of Gilas’ next opponent after Japan should become clearer once all the group-stage games have been completed.
Can Gilas Pilipinas Women Win an Asian Games Medal?
For now, the most important thing is that the Philippines has already put itself in position to compete for one.
Two games.
Two wins.
A quarterfinal berth secured.
The challenge becomes much more difficult from here, especially with Japan coming up and Asia’s traditional basketball powers waiting in the knockout rounds.
But Gilas Pilipinas Women have done exactly what they needed to do in their first two games.
They dominated Kazakhstan.
They survived Hong Kong’s challenge and pulled away in the second half.
And now they get a chance to test themselves against Japan before entering the quarterfinals.
Gilas Pilipinas Women Asian Games 2026 Schedule and Results at a Glance
September 17
Philippines def. Kazakhstan, 86-58
September 20
Philippines def. Hong Kong, 90-73
September 22
Philippines vs Japan
12:00 PM Philippine Time
Current record: 2-0
Status: Qualified for the quarterfinals
Next game: Philippines vs Japan
Final Thoughts
So far, so good for Gilas Pilipinas Women.
The Filipinas have opened the 2026 Asian Games with two straight victories and are officially headed to the quarterfinals.
Their 86-58 win against Kazakhstan was a dominant start.
Their 90-73 victory against Hong Kong showed they could respond when an opponent managed to keep the game close.
Now comes Japan.
It will be the toughest test of the group stage and a useful gauge of where Gilas stands before the knockout phase begins.
Whatever happens in that game, though, one thing is already confirmed:
Gilas Pilipinas Women are moving on.
The quarterfinals are next, and the Philippines’ chase for its first Asian Games women’s basketball medal continues.
